became poor, that ye through his poverty might be made rich."" The sixteenth annual meeting of the Hamilton Baptist Missionary Society was held at Eaton, Feb. 18,1824. Eld. N. Cole preached a sermon, Psalm xliii. 3: "O send out thy light and thy truth." The reports of the Secretary, Treas urer, Superintendent, Superintending Committee, and School. teacher, were read and accepted.

Treasury Account, for the year ending Feb. 11, 1824.

The sum received, together with the balance in the treas. ury, was Expenditures,

Abstract from the report of the Board.

$1,851 73 1,851 73

"During the past year the Board have endeavored to con. sult the best interests of the Society. They have appointed missionaries, from whom they have received returns amounting to eighty-nine weeks.

"In consequence of repeated solicitations from three brethren living in Syracuse, after a close investigation of the subject, the Board, viewing the importance of the station, and the destitute condition of some of the towns adjacent, were unanimously of the opinion that it was their duty to establish a missionary at Syracuse, whose duty it should be to labor in that village, and in places adjacent. Accordingly, in March, 1823, Eld. Nathaniel J. Gilbert was appointed to that station, and in May he commenced his labors in that place.

The Board have been enabled to continue their operations at Oneida; and the condition of the establishment at present appears favorable. They have hadto encounter many obsta cles thrown in their way by the enemy, to excite the prejudices of the Indians, and awakentheir jealousies. But confiding in the good providence ofGod, they still go forward, fearless of evil.

"It is with pleasure we contemplate the rising glories of the Redeemer's kingdom in the world. Divine philanthropy seems pervading the earth; multitudes have caught the flame, and are exerting all their energies to promote the triumphs of

It

the cross. And with inexpressible pleasure we recognize you, dear brethren, as zealous in this blessed cause. appears that Heaven approves your conduct, and has hitherto succeeded your labors. You will readily perceive that our operations are extending, and consequently call for unremit ting exertions on our part to meet the current expenses. We presume that it is only necessary to make you acquainted with the state of affairs, to call forth your utmost exertions in this blessed cause. It is with pleasure we anticipate the termination of the important contest between truth and error, and when our blessed Redeemer will reign unrivaled over all the earth. But we can not close this report without expressing our grateful acknowledgements to the female and juvenile associations auxiliary to this Society; to the Black River, St. Lawrence, and Mexico, Missionary Societies; and also to numerous individuals who have generously contributed to aid in carrying into effect the benevolent designs of this body."

The seventeenth meeting of the Hamilton Baptist Missionary Society was held at Nelson, Feb. 23, 1825. Eld. Bennett preached the sermon, from Isaiah xxviii. 29. The Secretary's and other reports were read and accepted. The school-teacher, and four of his pupils, were present, and their exhibitions were very interesting. Conversation was had concerning the alteration of the name of the Society; whereupon a vote was passed, that a petition be presented to the Legislature, praying for an alteration in the act of incor poration, so far as to alter the name of the Society to that of the Baptist Missionary Convention of the State of New York; and also to increase the number of Directors to thirty. The Board were directed to present the petition. They adjourned, to meet at Fabius, on the Wednesday after the third Lord's day in May next.

Extracts from the Secretary's Report for 1824.

"During the past year, received reports of missionary services performed to the amount of sixty-five weeks. The accounts from the missionaries were very satisfactory, and seemed to indicate the approbation of Heaven.

"Agents were appointed to perform certain duties, which

they have faithfully performed. The Board feel constrained gratefully to acknowledge the generous and prompt assistance they have received from a liberal public. The Board have in all their proceedings enjoyed harmony and unanimity.

"The affairs of the Society were advancing prosperously, when a mysterious stroke of Divine Providence seemed for a while to cast a gloom over the whole scene. They allude to the death of their sincerely lamented superintendent at the Indian station, Eld. Emory Osgood, who departed this life at Utica, Sept. 12, 1824. He had been in the service of the Society but a few months: but through his zeal and activity he had done much in regulating affairs at the mission station. The concerns of the Society had, under his direction, assumed a pleasing aspect. Through the influence of the late superintendent, a Baptist church was organized at Oneida, March 10, 1824, consisting of twenty members. The school continues in a flourishing condition. Forty children are now under the exclusive patronage of the Society. Br. A. Lawton continues as a teacher of the school, and gives general satisfaction. The pupils make good proficiency in their studies."

At the meeting of the Board, in August last, Eld. Sylvanus Haynes and Dea. Squire Manro, members of the Board of the New York State Convention, were present, and expressed a strong desire that a committee from this Board should meet the Convention at Elbridge, in October next, for the purpose of effecting a union between the two bodies, if practicable. A committee was accordingly appointed, who, in company with several members of the Board and of the Society, met the Convention. Whereupon the Convention appointed a committee to confer with them upon the great object in view. During the conference, the committee did not for a moment lose sight of those plain and practical principles incorporated in the constitution of the Society, under which we have for seventeen years so happily, unitedly, and successfully, rallied. They saw no cause to abandon those principles; although they desired an increase of influence and usefulness, which union with their brethren was calculated to effect. After due

deliberation, the committee of the Convention agreed to recommend to that body the adoption of the constitution of this Society, with an alteration of the name of this Society, and an increase in the number of Directors. The committee

of the Board could see no reasonable objection to this measure; therefore, they agreed to recommend it to your attention. Accordingly, a special meeting of the Society was called in November last, but on account of the badness of the roads, and inclemency of the weather, but few members attended. However, matters were arranged then, as far as was consistent, in anticipation of a complete union at this time.

On a review of the scenes through which the Board have passed the last year, they have much cause for thanksgiving to God for his special care over them, and his multiplied blessings conferred upon them. The affairs of the Society, although restricted for want of adequate funds, have yet pro. ceeded with a steadiness which indicates the fostering care of Divine Providence, and presages the future benefits to be derived from the united efforts of the friends of religious improvement. An impartial view of the existing state of things in our degenerate world will serve to convince us of the necessity of unremitting exertions for maintaining the blessed cause of our glorious Redeemer. For this cause, a combination of strength and a union of effort are highly requisite. In this State there are more than thirty-nine thousand churchmembers of the Baptist denomination. Let these be united in one body, and what a formidable phalanx would be presented to the enemy! And is it not desirable that measures be adopted to produce such a union, that the whole strength of the denomination may be brought to bear on one point? It is with pleasure that we view the indications of the complete triumph of our glorious Redeemer. Intelligence is received, from almost every part of the habitable globe, of the increase of light, and of submission to the King of Zion. JEHOVAH is executing judgment upon the gods of the heathen; multitudes of idols are thrown to the moles and bats, or given to the flames. At the command of her King, Zion awakes; she listens to his voice, and begins to assume her beautiful garments, and appears clothed in beauty and arrayed in terror. How lovely the appearance! Songs are heard from the ends of the earth, giving glory to our God. Let us arise, and with united hearts and joyful voices swell the glorious triumph. But while we contemplate the noble scene, we should remember that we must be active in the blessed service.

On Wednesday, May 18, 1825, the Hamilton Baptist Missionary Society met, pursuant to adjournment, at the meetinghouse in Fabius. An appropriate sermon was delivered by Eld. Daniel Hascall, from Matt. vi. 19, 20.

Eld. John Peck, the President of the Society, gave information that, agreeably to the petition of the Board, the Legislature had passed a law, altering the name of the Society so as to read as follows:

AN ACT to alter the name of the Hamilton Baptist Missionary Society, and to increase the number of their Directors. (Passed April 15, 1825.)

"Be it enacted by the People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, That the Hamilton Baptist Missionary Society shall hereafter, and from the date of this act, be known and called by the name of the 'Baptist Missionary Convention of the State of New York;' and that the said Convention have power to increase the number of their Directors; and that so much of the act passed March 28, 1817, incorporating the Hamilton Baptist Missionary Society, as relates to the name and style of said Society, be repealed."

A collection of $17 85 was taken.

Let all those who profess to love the Lord, consider the necessity of exerting all their energies to accomplish a complete union among the friends of Zion, and to diffuse the sight of the gospel among the destitute. There is much work before us, and many calls to renewed exertions. Remember our poor red brethren in the midst of us. Go to Oneida, Tonawanda, Buffalo, &c. &c., and see there a multitude of interesting children in all the extremity of wretchedness. And does not Jesus say, Take these children, and bring them up for me? How many of the heathen are perishing for lack of vision! How many precious souls, in our towns and plantations, are destitute of the bread of life! And how many feeble churches have no one to lead them, or to administer to them the word of life! And do we not perceive that the enemy is on the alert, endeavoring to rally his broken forces, and fall upon the waste places of Zion? Iniquity abounds,