cember 22, 1834. He says, in a letter dated December 26, "Yesterday, I attended meeting, four miles from here, at what is called the old Baptist meeting-house, and preached to an assembly of Indians and Africans. After the service, upon the request of bro. Davis, all the members of the church present came forward, one after another, and gave me their hand. It was difficult to suppress the emotions of my mind, on this interesting occasion. It is rather a low time in the church, as I learned from bro. Davis; but I am not able to write particulars, for want of information. Bro. Lewis has left the mission, and removed to Crawford Co., as, doubtless, you will have heard ere this. I feel much responsibility, at this critical time, resting on After consulting bro. Davis, we have concluded it duty to labor together, i. e. including sisters Rice and Colburn, with myself and family. Sister Colburn will go into the school, and I hold myself in readiness to render that assistance which circumstances will justify. I have notified the Indians that school will commence on Monday next.".

me.

In a letter, dated January 19, 1835, Mr. Rollin says, "We have had some precious meetings, because we felt that we enjoyed the approbation and smiles of Jesus. New Year's day, we and sister Colburn united with the church. It was a source of comfort and encouragement, I believe, to our dear native brethren, as well as of gratitude and joy to ourselves. We observed the Monthly Concert, and felt encouraged in the reflection that a cloud of incense ascended to God from many a Christian's heart. I have employed an interpreter, the one that bro. Lewis employed. He can be had only on the Sabbath, as he is a slave. I have engaged to make him some remuneration. The chiefs of this nation, although generally opposed to missionary operations have treated us with respect thus far. They are opposed to the measures of government, to suppress the use of ardent spirits among them. They countenance its introduction, and great quantities are smuggled into the nation. They allow polygamy,-a trait unknown in the Indian character at the north. They oppose the introduction of learning and religion among the slaves. Bro. Lewis' Sabbath school, I have been informed, was composed mostly of blacks. Bro. Fleming (our Presbyterian brother,) more recently had an interesting little Sabbath school; but it has been entirely broken up by the chiefs. The children were mostly slaves.

"The subject of acquiring the language still occupies my mind. I feel that the first business of a missionary, in a heathen land, should be to acquire the language of the country. I am fully persuaded that permanent good among the Indians can only be effected by acquiring and translating the language.

"Bro. Davis received a letter, a few days since, from bro. Lykins, desiring him to come immediately to Shawanoe, and assist in the translations there to be printed for the use of this people. Although I regret his absence so soon after my arrival, I have encouraged him to go. He expects to start, in a few days, with the leave of Providence.

"Our school has commenced. It was opened with five scholars; and the number has gradually increased to twelve. The probability is, it will continue to increase, especially when the weather becomes more settled and warm."

CHEROKEES.

[Within Flint District, near the eastern boundary of the Cherokee country.]

Missionary, Rev. SAMUEL ALDRICH.

On the 25th of August last, the Rev. Duncan O'Bryant died, of a bilious fever, after an illness of eleven days. In his last hours, he enjoyed the presence of the Saviour. He was a zealous servant of the Lord Jesus, and he enjoyed in a high degree the love and confidence of all who knew him.

He has left a widow, and a number of small children, in a very destitute condition. May the Lord comfort and protect them. Mrs. O'Bryant, in a letter to the Corresponding Secretary, says, "When I remember, that our God has pledged himself to be unto the widow a husband, and a parent to the orphan, my heart is comforted within me." Mrs. O'Bryant will soon, it is probable, remove from this station.

The Rev. Mr. Aldrich arrived at the station, Dec. 24, 1834. In a letter, dated Jan. 17, 1835, he says, "I arrived here on the 24th ult., and was kindly received by the brethren. Yet I am sorry to say, that there is, with the church generally, a want of life and spirituality. The number in the church is twenty-one; two or three of whom are now under church discipline, which will probably result in the exclusion of one or more. Nothing has been done in reference to them since my arrival. The people appear very desirous to have their children instructed. The prospect is, that I shall be able to commence a school of 15 or 20 in about one week from this. There is a more favorable location for a school about six miles north of this place. I have visited several of the families, and find them exceedingly anxious to have a school. They have pledged themselves to build (at their own expense,) a suitable house, could they be furnished with a teacher. There are twenty-five, or thirty children, who live so compact, that they may board at home and attend school with convenience. A similar neighborhood cannot be found in the whole nation this side of the Mississippi. I cannot rest contented, and see so many children growing up in ignorance under such circumstances. Will not the Board send more laborers? I hope they will not leave me to toil all alone, where there is so much to be done. I feel exceedingly weak in so large a field. I have already three preaching places, and calls to labor in others. The country is so thinly settled that but a few can be collected in any one place. Formerly meetings have been held at the mission house, but once a month. No Sabbath school has been attempted. Since I came here, several slaves have expressed much anxiety for a Sabbath school, that they may learn to read. It will hardly be practicable to do any thing in this way, unless I give up appointments at a distance. One of the chief barriers to the success of a missionary in this place is, the intemperance of the people. Being so near the line, whiskey is easily procured in Arkansas. I have one great source of encouragement, and that is, the work is the Lord's."

CHOCTAWS.

[At the Choctaw Agency, on Arkansas River.]

Sampson Burch, native preacher.

Mr. Wilson left this station during the year, and the Board have received no recent information from it.

Mr. Burch has been invited by the missionaries at Shawanoe, under instructions from the Board, to reside at that station, and compile books in the Choctaw language, to be printed at the mission press and distributed among his countrymen. It is probable, that he will comply with this invitation.

MISSION TO HAYTI.

The Board have, at different times, received applications from Hayti, to send a missionary to labor in that populous island. Mr. William C. Monroe, an educated man of color, has recently offered his services, and the Board have appointed him a missionary to Port-au-Prince, for one year. Mr. Monroe was ordained in New-York, on the 2d of April, and sailed on the 6th, with his family, for Port-au-Prince. There are several Baptists in that city; and it is hoped that the truth will spread among the Catholic population.

MISSION TO EUROPE.

FRANCE.

Missionaries, Rev. ISAAC M. WILLMARTH, Mrs. WILLMARTH, Rev ANTONY PORCHAT.

Mr. Willmarth and his wife sailed from New York, May 1, 1834, and arrived at Havre, May 31. They immediately proceeded to Paris, and made arrangements for commencing their missionary operations. Sickness and other obstacles have impeded their progress, but they have made a beginning. The Board have appointed the Rev. Antony Porchat, a French Baptist preacher, as their missionary, to be associated with Mr. Willmarth. The Board have also appointed two other French Baptist preachers, as missionaries in France, but they have not yet accepted the appointment. In a letter dated Paris, Dec. 29, 1834, Mr. Willmarth says,

"Mr. Porchat and myself are the only persons now engaged in the Mission. We have opened a small chapel, capable of containing 60 or 70 persons, in a populous part of the city, where Mr. P. preaches the Gospel in French every Sabbath, at 11, A M. and at 7, P. M. and on Thursday evening, at 7. At 2, P. M. on Sunday, I preach in English. Our hearers are not yet numerous. The French congregation has anicunted to about 30, but does not ordinarily exceed 15. The number of hearers at the English service is not so great, but we hope when the location becomes better known, that the number of hearers will be augmented. There are many Americans and English in this quarter of the city, who it is hoped may be induced to attend.

"Besides these meetings, bro. P. has a meeting on Tuesday evening at his own house, which is attended by several of the neighbors, most, if not all, of whom are Catholics. The constitution of a church has, for some time past, engaged our attention, but has not yet taken place. Some obstacles have existed. One of the most difficult is now removed, and we hope soon to constitute a sinall church.

"We have not as yet taken any students, but there are three, who, on the last information, stood ready to come as soon as requested. One or two of these we intend to have with us very soon, and all of them as soon as the difficulties in our way are removed.

"Notwithstanding the unfavorable appearance of external circumstances, we feel encouraged. We do trust the Lord will yet favor this mission with blessings from above."

Under date of Jan. 6th, 1835, Mr. Willmarth says," During the period which has elapsed since the commencement of this letter, after much prayer and deliberation, I have determined to take one student immediately, and two others in the spring, or as soon as arrangements can be made for their reception."

The Board feel an increasing conviction, that the mission to France, ought to be vigorously sustained. They earnestly pray, that the peace between that country and the United States may not be interrupted, but that we may be enabled to prosecute with success our endeavors to establish in that great and powerful nation the dominion of the Prince of Peace.

GERMANY.

The attention of the Board was drawn to Germany by several providential circumstances, which clearly made it their duty to commence measures for missionary labors in that great and important country. In the vast regions, comprehended within the name of Germany, there is comparatively little of enlightened, scriptural piety. The Catholic religion prevails

over a large portion of the territory, and different forms of corrupted protestantism hold many millions in a darkness which is almost equally dismal. Germany needs another Reformation, and thousands of her inhabitants are sighing for evangelical instruction. The pure Gospel must be preached there with apostolical simplicity and fervor. The Board believe, that the Baptists of this country ought to aid in spreading the Gospel in that country. There are in and near Germany many thousands of Mennonites, who are Baptists, in many of their principles, but who have been affected by the corrupting influences which have existed around them. They may, undoubtedly, be benefited by aid from the Baptists in this country, and perhaps they may be allured back to the old paths. Our pure doctrines and scriptural institutions are admirably adapted to rouse a nation like Germany from its apathy, dispel its errors, and revive whatever remains of true evangelical feeling.

God prepared the way for the operations of the Board, by raising up at Hamburg, a man, who seems to be well fitted to be a pioneer. He is thus described, in a letter from Professor Sears, who was requested by the Board to make inquiries in Germany, respecting the religious state and wants of the country:

"I know not that there is any regular Baptist church in all the north of Germany. Of the Mennonites, I have nothing to say now; but aside from them, there are in Germany not a few individuals who are Baptists in sentiment. On my arrival at Hamburg, I called on Mr. Oncken, whom I found to be in all respects an interesting man. He is a German, a little more than thirty years of age, married in England, has two children, is perfectly master of the English language, (which is spoken much in Hamburg,) and though not a man of liberal education, has a very strong, acute mind, has read much, is a man of inuch practical knowledge, and is very winning in his personal appearance and manners. From 1823 to 1828, he was a missionary of the Continental Society, and preached in Hamburg and vicinity, with very considerable success. Since that time, he has been agent of the Edinburgh Bible Society, and has more influence than any other man in selecting the publications of the Lower Saxony Tract Society. He has the confidence of Tholuck, Hahn, Hengstenberg, and many other distinguished individuals of the evangelical party, and has their co-operation in circulating Bibles and tracts. He has at length become so thoroughly a Baptist, that he cannot be satisfied without being a member of a Baptist church, and the second day after my arrival, he requested me to baptize him; but in consequence of his going to Poland as an agent of the Bible Society, to be absent two or three months, and also of a variety of circumstances connected with the formation of a church, it was deemed advisable to defer it until spring. Six or eight (Mrs. Oncken is one of the number) are wishing to receive the ordinance at the same time. The design at present is, that after his return, I, in connection with some other Baptist minister, if possible, (I know of no one nearer than Switzerland,) should go to Hamburg, administer the ordinance, form a church, and ordain Mr. Oncken pastor. . . . I have learned, that there are three other young men besides Mr. Oncken, who are Baptists, (though one, Mr. Lewis, is unbaptized,) and preachers, all employed as tract agents, laboring single handed, in different quarters of the country. They simply know each other's names. They need to be encouraged, and brought into a system of co-operation."

The Board immediately adopted measures to secure the services of Mr. Oncken, as a missionary, and they placed, in the mean while, at the disposal of Professor Sears, a moderate sum, to be expended, at his discretion, in promoting the cause of religion, in connection with the Baptist churches in Germany.

On the 22d April, 1834, Mr. Oncken and six other individuals were baptized by Professor Sears, and were the next day formed into a church, of which Mr. Oncken was ordained as the Pastor. The present condition of this church, and other particulars relative to the religious condition of Germany, may be learned from the following extracts from a letter of Professor Sears to the Corresponding Secretary, dated Berlin, Nov. 10th, 1834:

"The church at Hamburg are very happily united, are unmolested by the government, and are in a prosperous state. Thirteen have been baptized in all. Of these, one young brother has recently died of the cholera. His last words, addressed to a friend who was not pious, were, ‘O how blessed is religion in the hour of death! I know where I am going.' Another of the number, who only travelled through Hamburg, has gone home to Tilsit, near the borders of Russia, and I have heard well of him, as a kind of lay missionary in nearly all the towns through which he passed. He is a young man of considerable promise. A third member was compelled to enter the Hanoverian army, but his time of service will expire in the course of the year, when he will return to Hamburg. As he was a young man, we feared he would suffer from the corrupting influence of the army. But we learn he has continued firm, and rendered himself useful to his fellow-soldiers. He has done something among them for the cause of temperance, and has brought some to think favorably of his religious views.

"The church hold a meeting by themselves in one place on Sabbath morning, where other serious persons attend, and in another place in the afternoon, public preaching, before a congregation that is constantly increasing. They have also several prayer meetings. Five of the male members have taken different districts of the city, which they visit as missionaries, regularly, once in two weeks. In some cases, two go together, the more and the less experienced being united. If we consider the pagan state of that great city, we must look upon this missionary labor of private brethren as truly apostolical. Great results have not yet been witnessed, but every thing wears an encouraging aspect. I have scen Christian fellowship and love in American churches, but never saw those who thought that it was their life and earthly happiness so much as these brethren do. The immediate vicinity of Hamburg, especially between there and Bremen, is an inviting field of labor. About two years ago, Mr. Oncken held meetings in Bremen, and the poorer people came in from many surrounding villages, to hear him, and his preaching was blest. These poor villagers, in 14 or 15 small villages, have kept up so many little social meetings among themselves ever since. Mr. Lauge, one of the members of the church, and brother to the one who recently died of the cholera about two years ago, held meetings in another village, and about thirty were converted under his labors. These have likewise kept up the meeting among themselves, where one hundred now usually attend. As these places can rarely be visited, the Lutheran pastors (Rationalists,) have done what they could to stop the 'fanaticism,' and to bring the people again to their senses. Truly these disciples are lambs in the midst of wolves, and some of them have been prejudiced against those who have been to them the instruments of so much good. If bro. Oncken could be enabled to make frequent short missionary tours to these and similar places, and then once or twice in a year, to take a longer tour, to hold personal interviews with different individuals scattered over Germany, who begin to see at least trees as men walking, converse with them on the doctrines and discipline of the Christian church, and prepare the way for subsequent correspondence and co-operation, and know what places to direct his travelling brethren to visit, (for here there are many travelling merchants · pnd