92 1st Report of the Southern Auxiliary Bible Society

REMARK.-Natchez, the principal town of Mississippi Territo ry, is evidently undergoing a revolution. Its moral character is rapidly changing. Its infidelity is bending under the strong arm of truth, and its corruptions are shrinking away before the light of evangelical religion. It is to form the central point, we trust, whence the blessings of the Gospel are to diverge and gladden its great surrounding regions. Who are God's instruments in this good work? Bible, Missionary, and Tract Societies. Is it then filching from the pockets of our neighbours, to persuade them to aid those societies? Is there any danger of our giving too much? Shall we be afraid of doing too much good?

EXTRACTS

From the first Annual Report of the Committee of the Southern Auxiliary Bible Society,* December 25th, 1816.

Suitable measures were taken to obtain from the Georgia Bible Society a competent supply of Bibles.-Four hundred and forty six copies have been received, of which nearly the whole are distributed.

In the distribution of these the committee have had the satisfaction to find that their efforts have not been in vain. The scriptures have been received with expressions of gratitude, and in many instances sought after with a degree of eagerness, which gives us reason to hope, that valuable effects will hereafter appear from the careful perusal of them. Within our reach, many are still destitute who call for our aid. Few copies of the scrip tures have yet been distributed beyond the limits of Liberty, Bryan and McIntosh counties. As opportunity occurred, a small number have been sent into Glynn and Wayne, a few into Tatnall, and two or three into the Indian nation Among the Indians, we are informed, that these copies have been thankfully received, and we cannot but hope, that in process of time, they may be the means of much good to that people.

The amount of contributions received, is $1295, of which $1048 50 cents have been paid to the Treasurer of the Georgia Bible Society--sundry expenses, 26 dollars-balance in the hands of the treasurer, 220 dolls. 50 cts.

We hail the present as an age of Bibles; as an era of increas ing light throughout the world. Bible associations are formed in almost every part of Christendom upon the same principles, pursuing the same ends, animated by the same spirit, and rejoicing in the manifest blessing of God upon their efforts. A great work is progressing, in which princes and peasants, the rich and the poor, are happily united. The mite of the widow is not despised: the thousands of the wealthy are not vainly or lavishly contributed.

The labours already undergone, and the millions already spent, have taught the friends of humanity and religion, not only that their hopes will be realized, but that the state of the world, and the various openings of providence for the promotion of the gosAuxiliary to the Georgia B. S.

*

1

in the State of Georgia.

93

pel, call for persevering and increasing efforts. Over a great portion of the earth a dark cloud still hangs, which has never been pierced by the beams of the sun of righteousness; millions worship the works of their own hands, and know nothing of the Saviour, the God of Israel. But it is not unreasonable to hope and wish for the universal prevalence of Christianity; and perhaps for this purpose no measure is more promising than the universal diffusion of the sacred word. The light of truth must expose the deformity of error. The Bible in the bands of the followers of Mahomet, Confucius, or Bramah, will, we trust, by the grace of God, convince them of sin and bring them to Christ the only Redeemer. Such bas already been the case, and hence we take encouragement, and look forward with confidence to the future triumphs of the truth.

He with whom the day of small things is not despised, has smiled upon our humble efforts in this good cause. But much remains for us to do. Some within our immediate reach call for our aid. These we must supply. But shall our concern go no further? From our connexion with the Georgia Bible Society, which is now an Auxiliary to the American Bible Society, to which its surplus funds are sent, we perceive not only an opportunity of being liberal, but also a strong obligation to contribute our full proportion to the support of that important national establishment. Like the British and Foreign Bible Society, we hope the parent institution in our country, will extend its influence even to distant lands, and command the blessings of many that are ready to perish, or ardently longing for the word of life. While, therefore, we love the souls of men, let our zeal continue without abatement. It is the house of God that we are seeking to rear; it is the kingdom of Satan that we wish to see destroyed; it is the happiness of immortal souls that we are endeavouring to The work is arduous; but its importance can never be lessened, and christian charity can never be exercised in a more interesting design. The lukewarm and unbelieving, who withhold their aid, will themselves be the greatest losers. The conscientious and liberal donor shall find his reward. The approbation of God and the salvation of souls is of more value than gold. Let us therefore imitate him who "though he was rich, for our sakes became poor," remembering "that he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly, and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully."

secure.

WM, M WHIR, President,

Medway, July 9th, 1817.

THOMAS S. WINN, Secretary.

Departure of the Missionaries.-The Rev. Allen Graves and John Nichols, Missionaries, with their ladies, and Miss Philomela Thurston, sailed from Boston for Bombay on Sunday 7th ult in the ship Saco.

Recorder

94

Obituary of the Rev. Dr. Robert Finley.

[OBITUARY.]

Died, on Friday morning, the 3d Oct. the Rev. ROBERT FINLEY, D. D. President of the University of Georgia, after a painful illness of eighteen days. His sickness, which was of the most violent bilious character, be unfortunately contracted during a tour through several of the lower counties, on professional business, in August; he returned home with the fatal indisposition which has imposed so distressing a wound upon all the relations of society.

Whether we consider the death of this truly pious man, in a private or public view, the causes of regret multiply upon us, with such successive and increasing rigour, as to overwhelm the mind with the most bitter feelings of anguish. He has left an amiable wife and nine children to mourn his afflictive loss. This family have recently been brought from the bosom of their friends and relations. and by the melancholy dissolution of its head are now cast upon the land of strangers. Connected with the fortunes of the lamented deceased, they have forsaken some of the dearest ties which can arise from the love of a Country, the early scenes of nativity, or the loveliest sympathies of feeling.-United with him, whose whole energy of soul was bent to the accomplishment of an all important service to this State, they, by the separation occasioned by this awful dispensation, are now leit friendless and unprotected upon the gratitude of that state.

In the Institution, which he had so lately been called to preside over, he commenced the duties of his office with such a prompt and ardent zeal, so unwearied in his exertions and so constant in his devoted care of all its concerns, as afforded the most certain promise of success, and the no less gratifying assurance that, under his administration, it was about to lift its languishing head. To the deep regret of his country, he has left it once more to the dubious issue of wayward contingencies.

In contemplating the private course of Dr. Finley, the mind has a field to rest upon, lovely in prospect, unbroken in surface, and endless in variety. If the most fervent and durable piety can give dignity and respect to character; if equanimity of temper, steady firmness of principle, and the most unbending rectitude of conduct, can secure to pure and worthy motives their merited esteem-if the most inflexible benevolence of heart, constantly directed to the advancement of charitable institutions, the relief of misfortune, the diffusion of happiness, and the increase of pious contentment, has not lost its influence upon human actions, the life and death of this good man must offer an example full of peace and consolation to his family, comfort and resignation to his friends, and the most lasting usefulness to society

The Church has sustained a loss of one of its firmest pillars. In all the pursuits of his life, those ceased to be objects of interest, when they ceased to subserve the purposes of religion. To a mind warmed and animated by those hopes which devotion contemplates shall survive the stroke of death, he joined the soundest dictates

Obituary of the Rev. Dr. Robert Finley.

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were

of sober reflection, the cool and unshaken possession of judgment, and the open and reconciling stamp of sincerity. From the pulpit he was accustomed to utter, graced with the beauty and armed with the energy of the most impressive eloquence, those eternal truths, which, while they stand on the "rock of ages," winged with irresistible effect when delivered from his masterly and affecting management, and never failed to dignify the heart, elevate the affections, and heighten those dread expectations which rest in such mysterious wonder beyond the limits of time. Georgia Journal.

Recent communications from Athens enable us to add a few interesting particulars relating to the subject of this obituary me

moir.

Dr. Finley spent the whole of the month of August on a tour through the lower counties of the state of Georgia, in order to visit the academies and collect funds for the library of the college. The indefatigable zeal and fidelity with which that excellent man was in the habit of prosecuting every enterprize which his ardent love to God and man prompted him to undertake, added to the unhealthy state of the country through which he had to pass, had exhausted his strength, and laid the foundation of the disease which terminated his mortal course. On his return to Athens, the duties of his station, claiming incessant attention, left him no chance of immediately recovering from the excessive fatigue and bodily indisposition which his late tour had occasioned. In a few

days after his return, he was again urged to visit a neighbouring congregation, lately formed, about 17 miles distant, for the purpose of administering the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper to a destitute people, who had been long waiting for his arrival for the celebration of that solemn ordinance, and were very anxious that he should go and feed their hungry and thirsty souls, and break to them the bread of life. Some of them had heard with joy from his lips the unsearchable riches of Christ; and a large collection of people was about to assemble from distant parts of the country to partake in or to witness the sacred ordinance about to be solemnized. Though the flesh seemed unequal to the task of engaging, without assistance, in the execution of the fatiguing duties which the occasion called on him to fulfil, both in the preparatory exercises and in those of the celebration of the Supper, yet his zeal for the cause of his Master, and the great prospect of usefulness before him, raised his spirits so much above attention to the state of his bodily frame as to overcome all objections; and, under a conviction of duty, he went and preached on the two

96 Formation of a Colonization Society in New-York.

days preceding the Sabbath, and on that day administered the Sacrament. At the close of the service he had scarcely strength enough left to return to his home, when he was stretched on a bed of languishment, which finally put an end to his labours on earth. Those labours had been formerly blessed in an eminent degree in other places where he had been employed in his Master's service. It appears that, in the new field where he had been lately called to work, visible fruits are already manifest to the praise of God's glorious grace; and it is confidently hoped that the last fulfilment of his ministerial duties have been instrumental in gathering some perishing souls into the fold of the Redeemer, who shall be to him crowns of rejoicing in the day of the Lord. His zealous exertions, it is trusted, have kindled a holy fire in that region, which may not be soon extinguished. He was truly a light set on a hill: it shone before men in such a manner as that others, seeing his good works, might glorify their Father in heaven. That light, as one has aptly remarked, seemed, like the expiring taper, to emit a brighter ray just as it was going out. Of this faithful servant of the Lord Jesus, we may say with confidence, that, in humble imitation of the great apostle, he has fought a good fight, he has finished his course; and we trust he has gone to receive a crown of life, which is reserved for them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. NEW-YORK COLONIZATION SOCIETY.

On Wednesday evening, agreeably to public notice, a number of citizens assembled at the City Hall, to consider the expediency of forming a Society in this city, with a view to co-operate with our fellow citizens in other parts of the Union in the contemplated attempt to colonize the free people of colour inhabiting this country. After considerable discussion on the merits of the question, it was finally decided that it was exedient to form such an Institution. A Constitution was then framed, and adopted. It is in substance as follows:

The Society is designated THE NEW-YORK AUXILIARY COLONIZATION SOCIETY.

Its object is to aid the Parent Society at Washington instituted for the purpose of Colonizing the free people of colour of the United States.

Its concerns are to be conducted by a Board of Directors consisting of a President, four Vice Presidents, a Corresponding and a Recording Secretary, a Treasurer and twelve Managers; of whom 5 are a quorum.

The payment of one Dollar annually constitutes a member; and of 30 Dolls. at one time a member for life. The annual meetings of the Society are to be held on the last Wednesday in October, at 4 o'clock, P. M.