of its funds; that all who are disposed may do something to promote so laudable an undertaking.

ART. 13. The annual meetings of the Society shall be holden on the day before the meetings of the Madison Association; or at such time or place as the Society shall appoint. ART. 14. The Society shall have power, at their annual meeting, to make such alterations and additions as experience may dictate.

ART. 15. Any member of this Society, who wishes to discontinue his membership, upon paying up his dues shall be dismissed.

In the years 1809, 1810, 1811, the Society continued its operations, and as its funds were increasing, it was enabled, during that period, to send out the following persons as missionaries:

Elds. Salmon Morton, Elisha Ransom, Joel Butler, Ashbel Hosmer, Hezekiah Eastman, John Lawton, John Peck, Alfred Bennett, Nathan Baker, and Jonathan Ferris, who performed their several tours to the satisfaction of the Board, and the abundant joy of those whom they visited, and to whom they administered the word of life.

In the beginning of the year 1811 the Society met with a severe loss, in the death of Eld. Ora Butler, of Westmoreland, son of Eld. Joel Butler. He was a prominent and useful member both of the Society and its Board. No minister of his age in the country possessed greater talents, learning, prudence, piety, or influence. Hence great expectations were raised of his future usefulness in the church, as he was sound in the doctrine of the gospel, and an able minister of the New Testament. But it pleased the Lord to call him, in the midst of his usefulness, to rest from his labors, to the great grief of the church of which he was pastor, and of his numerous brethren and friends. He died in the 40th year of his age. The following was found in the minutes of the Madison Association for 1811: "Since our last meeting it has pleased a righteous God to call us to mourning. Our dear brother, Ora Butler, has been called from this militant state to join, as we humbly trust, the saints in glory. He died January 16, 1811. This is the first instance in which we have been called to witness the seat of any of our brethren in the min

istry vacated by death since the formation of the Otsego Association. He died of a painful disorder, but his soul appeared full of glory. He left a striking proof of the power of Divine grace to comfort and support in a dying hour. The memory of the just is blessed!""

The sixth annual meeting was held in North Norwich, Sept., 1812. The reports of the missionaries, which were very cheering, were read, and it appeared that the Lord had greatly blessed their labors to the comfort of many in the wilderness. The state of the funds was very encouraging. Yet, notwithstanding the cheering accounts from the missionaries, and the pleasing state of the funds, the Society was again called to deep mourning, on account of the mys terious dispensation of Divine Providence, in removing, by death, its President, Eld. Ashbel Hosmer, who departed this life in the fifty-fourth year of his age. He had filled that office since the organization of the Society, and did much in directing its operations. Notwithstanding the bereavement they had met with in the removal of this good man, trusting in the Lord, the brethren were encouraged to move forward. Accordingly, they proceeded to choose the following brethren as a Board for the year ensuing, viz. Eld. John Peck, Pres. Eld. Joseph Coley, Sec. Dea. Warner Goodell, Treas. Elds. John Lawton, Alfred Bennett, John Upfold, Roswell Beckwith, Jonathan Ferris, Nathan Baker, Daniel Hascall, and Br. Thomas Cox, Directors.

At a meeting of the Board, Feb. 19, 1812, a circumstance occurred which gave great encouragement to the Board, as it appeared a signal of Divine Providence, to beckon them forward in their holy enterprise. Mrs. Betsey Payne and Mrs. Freedom Olmsted were introduced as a committee from the Hamilton Female Society, and presented the following letter:

"To the Directors of the Hamilton Baptist Missionary Society:

"BRETHREN-Being sensible of the lost situation into which the human family have plunged themselves by the fall, and that the only way of their recovery is through faith in the Redeemer, and that it has pleased God, by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe, and that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, and being

instructed that they that preach the gospel shall live of the gospel, we have thought it our duty to assist you in your laudable efforts to disseminate the gospel among the destitute; for which purpose we present you with twenty yards of fulled cloth, and wish you to receive it, and dispose of it for the above purpose. And may the great Head of the church increase our zeal, and bless your endeavors for the advance. ment of his kingdom.

"By order, and in behalf, of the Hamilton Female Baptist Missionary Society, "FREEDOM OLMSTED, "BETSEY PAYNE."

This was the first Female Society formed in this part of the country; but the noble example was soon followed by the formation of similar societies in Cazenovia, Fabius, and German: so that the above societies presented to the Board, in Feb., 1814, in articles of their own manufacture, the sum of $148.

In 1812 the Board voted to appoint missionaries for the ensuing year, for the term of twenty-five weeks.

The seventh annual meeting of the Hamilton Baptist Missionary Society was holden at Homer, Sept., 1813. Reports from the missionaries appointed for the last year were so encouraging, as to induce the Board to make appointments for the term of thirty weeks for the year ensu ing. We shall now proceed to give extracts from the reports of missionaries, and other interesting documents.

JOURNALS OF MISSIONARIES.

EXTRACTS FROM ELD. HEZEKIAH EASTMAN'S JOURNAL OF A TOUR TO THE WESTWARD.

September 22, 1809, I set out on a missionary tour to the Holland Purchase. On the 28th attended the Cayuga Association-an agreeable season. On the 30th came to the Holland Purchase, and met with Eld. Butler, who informed me that a council was to meet at Chautauque lake, to constitute a church and ordain a minister. October 5th, I had to pass the nine mile woods, with only a foot-path and marked trees. It was very cloudy; night came on, and I soon lost my way— wandered about in the rain, till at last I gave up all hopes of finding my way out. I then tied my horse, and walked about to avoid suffering with the cold, till about midnight; when the clouds seemed to break away a little, and had some more light. I then tried to steer my way through the wood, leading my horse and feeling my way. It however soon became dark as ever, with wind and rain, and was exceedingly cold. I still kept creeping on, expecting that I must perish. At length I thought that God is in the wilderness, and a present help in time of trouble. I felt encouraged to put my trust in him. At length, directed by a kind Providence, I came to a house. On the next day came to the lake, and with great difficulty passed round the point. The wind and waves were so high, and I was so wet and cold, that I thought I must perish; but after riding eight miles in this condition, I came to a house, got some refreshment, and then rode to Canadaway, and met Elds. Butler and Handy. On the 8th came to the place where the council was to meet. On the 10th the council met; a number of brethren and sisters presented themselves, and after due examination received fellowship as a church.

The church then presented Br. Jones as a candidate for

ordination. After due examination, agreed to set him apart to the work of the ministry. Elds. Root, Butler, Handy, and myself, assisted in the ordination. The season was delight

ful.

On the 17th returned to Canadaway-found Elds. Butler and Handy, the brethren here desiring us to meet with them, to examine into their standing.

On the 18th met with the brethren, and gave them fellowship as a church.

I then continued itinerating from place to place, preaching, exhorting, and warning, as I had opportunity, until the 15th of November, when I set out on my return home. On the 18th came to Phelpstown, where was a revival of religion. I then continued my journey; and on the 28th arrived in safety at my own house, and found my family and friends in good health. I feel that the Lord has been with me while traveling through the desert and visiting the scattered inhabitants of this wilderness.

TOUR OF ELD. JOHN PECK.

To the President and Directors of the Hamilton Missionary Society:

DEAR BRETHREN-Agreeably to the appointment I received from you, I left my family, and the dear people of my charge, June 5, 1810, and set out on my tour to the west. I preached at different places until I arrived at Eld. Irish's, in Aurelius, where I preached in the evening, and received much instruction, both as to the country and people where I was going. Next day rode to Phelps, and the next day, being Lord's day, preached to a crowded and solemn assembly. On Monday I designed to pursue my journey, but by the request of Eld. Wisner and the church I staid and attended the ordination of Br. William Roe, one of their members. I preached in the vicinity daily until the council met. Thursday, June 14, the ordination of Br. Wm. Roe was attended in the following manner: I tried to preach on the occasion, from Psalm cxxvi. 6; Eld. Jeremiah Irons offered the ordaining prayer, and laid on hands with Elds. Wisner and Shays; Eld. Solomon Goodell gave the charge; Eld.