As this Mission is intended for the same great quarter of the globe, in which the two already reported are established, it seemed proper to introduce it in immediate connexion with them: though in chronological order this is not its place.

If the countries of Southern Asia are highly interesting to Christian benevolence, and have strong claims upon Christian commiseration, on account of the hundreds of millions of human beings immersed in the deepest corruption and wretchedness; the countries of Western Asia, though less populous, are in other respects not less interesting; nor do they present less powerful claims. These were the scenes of those great transactions and events, which involved the destinies of mankind of all ages and all nations, for time and eternity; the creation of the progenitors of our race-the beginnings of the sciences and arts, and of civil and political institutions-the fatal transgression, which brought death into the world and all our woe"the successive revelations of Heaven, with all their attestations, their light and their blessings-the incarnation, labors and agonies of the Son of God, for the recovery of that which was lost-and the first exhibition of that mighty and gracious power, which is to bow the world to his sceptre, and fill the mansions of immortality with his people. They have since been the scenes of direful changes; and the monuments of all their glory have long lain buried in dismal ruins.But the word of Jehovah abideth forever; and that word gives promise of other changes there; changes to be followed by a radiance of glory, which shall enlighten all lands.

In Palestine, Syria, the Provinces of Asia Minor, Armenia, Georgia and Persia, though Mohammedan countries, there are many thousands of Jews, and many thousands of Christians, at least in name. But the whole mingled population is in a state of deplorable ignorance and degradation, destitute of the means of divine knowledge, and bewildered with vain imaginations and strong delusions.

It is to be hoped, however, that among the Christians there, of various denominations, some might be found, who are alive in Christ Jesus; and who, were proper means employed for their excitement, improvement and help, might be roused from their slumbers, become active in doing good, and shine as lights in those darkened regions. It is indeed to be hoped, that no small part of those, who bear the Christian name, would willingly and gladly receive the Bible into their VOL. XV.

69

houses, and do something towards imparting the heavenly treasure, as opportunities should be afforded, to the Jews,Mohammedans and Pagans; and, dispersed as they are, among the different nations, they might do much; at least might afford many and important facilities and advantages for carrying into effect the expanding desires of benevolence. To the Jews, we and all Christians are indebted, under Divine Providence, for the Oracles of God, and all the blessings by which we are distinguished from heathen nations. Long have they been an awful monument to the world of the sovereignty of God,under the tremendous curse so terribly imprecated, when the blood of the Lord of life and glory was demanded. But their dereliction is not to be perpetual. They are beloved for the fathers' sakes; and there shall come a Deliverer out of Zion, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.

It is not to be forgotten, however, that it is through our MERCY,-by means of the benevolent prayers, and sacrifices and labors of Christians for their restoration,-that they are to obtain mercy. And the time seems to have arrived for this mercy to be displayed, and for these means to be employed, in a manuer and with an earnestness, suitable to the momentous object. The dispositions recently manifested by the Jews extensively, and the success, which has attended the late attempts, which have been made for gaining their attention to Christianity, together with the more general movements and aspects of the age,are indications not to be disregarded.

By these, and other kindred considerations, your Committee have long had their mind and heart drawn towards Western Asia, and particularly towards the Land of ancient Promise, and of present Hope. The lights afforded them, for surveying the field, have not been neglected; the circumstances favorable and unfavorable to the contemplated enterprise have been attentively considered; and ten months ago the resolution was taken to send a Mission to PALESTINE, as soon as the requisite preparation could conveniently be made.

The Rev. LEVI PARSONS and the Rev. PLINY FISK have been designated for this mission. For several months after their designation, they were employed as agents of the Board in different parts of the Union; and being known as missionaries, under appointment for Jerusalem, they excited, in the Christian community extensively, a lively interest, which has been marked with distinguished liberality. Lately they have been engaged in particular preparations for the mission, in the expectation of embarking for the Levant before winter.

The design is, that they shall go first to Smyrna; and there remain for a longer or shorter time, as circumstances shall render advisable, for the purpose of acquiring more perfectly the requisite languages, and obtaining such information, of various kinds, as will be of impor-tance in their subsequent course. Palestine, and there fix their station at Jerusalem, if found practicable Thence, they are to proceed to and eligible; if not, at such other place, within or without the limits of Judea, as Providence shall indicate.

This whole Board will unite with their Committee, in commending this mission most fervently to the grace of God.

CHEROKEES.

THE system of this Mission;-its principles, its structure, its operations, and its first results, were so fully exhibited, at our last anniversary, that it cannot be necessary to enter largely into details in the present Report. During the year, the system has been advancing without any noticeable adversity, or abatement of success.

The SCHOOL has been gradually increasing; and, at the end of July, consisted of eighty three children;-fifty males, and thirty three females. Their residence at the mission house appears to have been more constant, than during the preceding year; their behavior not less satisfactory, nor their progress in learning less encouraging.

Some who were taken from the school, and little expected there again, have been returned. Among these are Catharine Brown, and a boy, who had been named Jeremiah Evarts.

In November, the father of Catharine, having resolved to migrate to the Arkansaw, and not to be overcome by intreaties and tears, firmly required her to leave the school for the purpose of going with the family. Though to her, as she said "it was more bitter than death," yet she dutifully obeyed, and went home to her father's house. There, as the migration was deferred, she remained about four months; and then to the great joy of herself, and of the mission family, her father brought her back. [See Pan. for Aug. p. 370.]

Your Committee feel no ordinary pleasure in recording this signal instance of condescending mercy, for grateful remembrance, and as an earnest, not to be lightly regarded, of good to the beloved individual, and to the favored mission.

In their journal, July 20th, the brethren say: "Three days ago the father of the fine full blooded boy, whom we called Jeremiah Evarts, came with Jeremiah and a younger son. It is now about ten months since he took Jeremiah home, on a visit, expecting to return him in six weeks. He remained with us until this morning; saying little, but attentively observing all that was done. This morning he told us, that he wished to leave his two sons with us until they were well learned, and should only want them to go home on a visit once a year: adding that he had been brought up in ignorance himself, and once thought that, as he had but little time to live, he would spend it in idleness, drinking, frolicking, &c. but finding this to be a bad way, he had left it, and gone to work, which he found a much better way to live. He did not wish his sons to be brought up in the way he had been, and to do as he had done. He was now too old to go to school himself; but he thought, if his sons were instructed, they might teach, and he would be glad to learn from them."

For reasons, which are too obvious to need particular statement, since the number of children has become so great, it has been deemed advisable to separate the females from the males, and to assign to them a house and school by themselves. Accordingly, a temporary building has been provided for them, until a better house, soon to be erected, shall be finished, and a separate school for them has been established.

Besides attending every day, during the appointed hours, to their studies in the schools, the pupils, male and female, have constantly

their regular hours and allotments of labor, and of various exercises and attentions for their general improvement; and, in all, they acquit themselves in a manner highly satisfactory. Besides the interesting female, who has become so well known to this Board and to the Christian community, other individuals are distinguished, and some of them scarcely less than Catharine, for their amiable dispositions, their excellent faculties, their rapid progress, and their praise-worthy deportment. Altogether, they are a lovely band of youth and children, whom the Committee, with heart-felt interest and pleasure,can commend to the affections, the charities, the prayers and benedictions of this Board and of the Christian public, as having strong claims to kind and liberal patronage, and affording high promise of usefulness among their own people.

At the mission-house, the preaching of the Gospel, the administration of Christian ordinances, and various exercises and means for religious instruction and improvement, appear to have been continued with life and regularity, and with encouraging success.

Upon the little church, planted in that wilderness, the Spirit of glory and of God still evidently rests. The record in the journal of the mission, for the last day of January, is an interesting memorial. [See Pan. July, p. 327.]

In June, the aged Cherokee woman above-mentioned, was admitted to full communion; and two female members of the school, one aged 16 and the other 15, were examined and received as candidates for baptism.

In a joint letter, the brethren say; "All, who have been admitted to church privileges, give increasing evidence that their hopes are well founded." They also say; [See Pan. July, p. 327.]

Instances are mentioned of persons occasionally coming from a great distance to hear preaching at the mission-house. Among these one may be noted. In a tour made by Mr. Hoyt in December, he preached at the house of Catharine Brown's father, and an aged Cherokee woman present was much affected. In May, this woman came from a distance of 120 miles, to hear, as she expressed it, more about the Savior." "It appears," say the brethren, "that soon after her first impression, she sent for Catharine, (who was then at home,) to read and explain the Bible to her, and to pray with her; and before Catharine came away, she told her, she intended to come hither for further instruction, as soon as she could."

Besides the exercises at the mission house, the missionaries, and particularly Mr. Butrick, and Mr. Chamberlain, have made frequent and distant excursions to different parts of the nation, for the purpose of visiting and conversing with the people in their families, and preaching as they should find opportunity. They appear to have been always, and in all places, kindly and gratefully received; and in many instances have been urgently intreated to repeat their visits.

In several places, also, a strong desire has been expressed to have stated preaching, and the missionaries constantly with them. In compliance with this desire, in the neighborhood of Mr. Hicks, about 20 miles from Brainerd, regular appointments have been, for most of the year, made and fulfilled, as often as once in a fortnight or three weeks The number of hearers has been very considerable; and their atten

tion highly encouraging. And in other places, where appointments for preaching have been made, appearances have been pleasing and hopeful.

The expenses of our Cherokee Establishment have not been light. A great part, indeed, of the expenses for buildings and for farming and other utensils, has been reimbursed by the government. But to supply provisions for the mission family, consisting of four missionaries with their wives and children, and eighty children of the natives, beside hired laborers, cannot cost little; and the contingencies of such an establishment must unavoidably be considerable.

The produce of the farm the last year, owing partly to the dryness of the season, and partly to the depredations of unruly and wild animals, was less than had been anticipated, and was consumed in a few months. And, owing to various causes, some of them transient, and others permanent, great difficulties, and some heavy disappointments, have been experienced, in obtaining supplies from the white settlements in Tennessee, the nearest in which contracts for supplies have been made, being 60 or 80 miles distant from Brainerd. A single disappointment the last winter, in the failure of a contract for corn, occasioned partly by the state of the river, was a detriment to the mission of several hundred dollars.

Your Committee have from the first regarded the cultivation of the farm, as an object of high importance. It is important for the purpose of exercising the native boys of the institution in agricultural labors; and of shewing to them and to the nation a sample of a farm under good husbandry, and yielding its products in variety and plenty. And it is important for the purpose of supplying, in the surest and cheapest manner, the principal provisions for the maintenance of the establishment. This last consideration has been urged upon our attention by the facts and circumstances, just referred to.

It became, therefore, an object of earnest desire to obtain a man of suitable qualifications, for the skilful and vigorous management of a farm, intended to be enlarged to an ample extent. And it would not fail to be regarded as a particular favor in Providence, that just as the exigence came to be deeply felt, the desire was answered.

About four months ago, Mr. Abijah Conger of Rockaway, N. J. made a sacred offer of himself for the service. In his letter, making the offer, he says, "My wife is a native of Bridgehampton, Long Island. We were married in the year 1803; and begun to keep house in the spring of 1804, with nothing but our hands. God has prospered us greatly in the good things of this world; and I hope we both have a treasure laid up in heaven for us. I have a large property here: and had any body told me, two years ago, that I would leave it, and go into the wilderness, I should have thought them beside themselves; as some of my neighbors and friends now do me. But while reading last winter of the difficulty the establishment had, to get mechanics. &c. the thought struck me, that I ought to go to their assistance. I tried every way to get it out of my mind, but to no purpose, till my sleep left me. I then made my wife acquainted with it; and she said, Go, and I will go with you.'-I have concluded to offer myself to the Board, to go to Brainerd, and act in the sphere, which the Board shall