92 1st Report of the Southern Auxiliary Bible Society REMARK.-Natchez, the principal town of Mississippi Territory, 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 ap pear from the careful perusal of them. Within our reach, many are still destitute who call for our aid. Few copies of the scriptures have yet been distributed beyond the limits of Liberty, Bryan and M'Intosh 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 gos 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 hands 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 has 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 92 1st Report of the Southern Auxiliary Bible Society REMARK.-Natchez, the principal town of Mississippi Territory, 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 scriptures 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 gos 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 has 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 secure. 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." 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 muitiply 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 left 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, the most lasting usefulness to society. and 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 |