and the love of many waxes cold. In this emergency it becomes the friends of the Redeemer to come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty. In such a cause none should be remiss. Should our country be invaded by an enemy, that should threaten our lives and liberties, and the destruction of our families, would not every man be at his post? Would he hesitate to part with all his worldly property, if required, to repel the invader, and save his family? But here is an enemy, the most cruel and dangerous, who threatens the destruction of both soul and body. And are we insensible of his fatal inroads? How many of our dear children and friends are led in chains by this cruel enemy! And shall we sleep? Shall we sit down and fold our hands? Shall we continue to hug our wealth, and remain unmoved, while the cries of the wretched are sounding in our ears? Do we not remember the bitter curse denounced on some who came not up to the help of the Lord against the mighty? In a word, let the importance of the cause, the glory of God, the salvation of souls, and our own happiness, arouse us to united and vigorous exertions in this most glorious cause. By order of the Board.

JOHN LAWTON, Sec.

John Peck, Pres.

A collection of $17 85 was taken for missionary purposes. After due consideration, it was unanimously voted to amend the constitution so as to read in the following words:

CONSTITUTION.

ART. 1. This Society shall be known by the name of the "Baptist Missionary Convention of the State of New York.'

ART. 2. The Convention shall consist of those only who shall subscribe to this constitution, and pay at least one dollar annually into its funds.

ART. 3. The object of this Convention shall be to send the gospel, and other means of promoting the knowledge of God, among such of our fellow-creatures as are destitute; and that either stationary or occasionally, as prudence may dictate and funds admit.

ART. 4. The Convention, at each annual meeting, shall appoint a moderator and a recording secretary of the meeting.

ART. 5. The members, at their annual meeting, shall, by ballot, appoint a President, Secretary, Treasurer, and thirty Directors. The President, Secretary, Treasurer, and twenty of the Directors, shall be members in good standing in some regular Baptist church. These thirty-three officers shall compose a Board, of which the President shall be chairman, and the Secretary clerk.

ART. 6. The President, by the consent of five of the Directors, shall have power to call a meeting of the Convention, whenever to him it shall appear necessary; also, as chairman of the Board, he shall have power, at his discretion, to call a meeting of the Directors; and it shall be his duty to call a meeting whenever requested by five members of the Board.

ART. 7. The chairman, with five other members of the Board, shall form a quorum to do business; and in case of the chairman's absence, any six members.

ART. 8. The Board shall have power to apply the funds according to their discretion, in all cases in which they shall not be restricted by the special direction of the Convention.

ART. 9. They shall have power to appoint and dismiss missionaries, to form and locate executive committees, and to transact all other necessary business of the Convention during its recess.

ART. 10. The Board of Directors shall annually exhibit to the Convention a particular account of the missionaries by them employed; the places to which they are, or have been, sent; their prospect of success; the state of the funds; their receipts and expenditures; and whatever relates to the institution.

ART. 11. The Treasurer shall exhibit, both to the Convention and Board, the state of the treasury whenever called upon for that purpose; and give sufficient security for the funds placed in his hands.

ART. 12. The Secretary shall correctly and fairly transcribe and record the proceedings of the Convention and Board, in a book furnished at the expense of the Convention.

ART. 13. In order more effectually, to aid the intention of

the Convention, a subscription shall be kept open for the benefit of the funds, that all who are disposed may do something to promote so laudable an undertaking.

ART. 14. The annual meeting of the Convention shall be on the third Wednesday of October, at 10 o'clock, A. M., at such place as the Convention from time to time may direct. ART. 15. Any person paying ten dollars in cash at one time, will be considered as a member of the Convention for life.

ART. 16. Any member of this Convention wishing to discontinue his membership, upon paying all dues may have his name erased.

ART. 17. Any number of persons associated for missionary purposes, upon a constitution adapted to the interests of this Convention, may become auxiliary to this Convention. And all members of such societies, who pay one dollar to the funds, shall be considered as members of this Convention. Any auxiliary society or any individual, who shall pay fifty dollars in cash or produce into the treasury of this Convention annually, shall have a right to appoint a member to act in the Board of Directors; and one member for every additional hundred dollars.

ART. 18. The Convention shall have power, at their annual meetings, to make such alterations and additions as experience shall dictate, by a majority of three-fourths of the members present.

The constitution, thus amended, was unanimously adopted. Upon its adoption, the much-desired coalition took place, and the two bodies cordially united; thereby combining the strength and consolidating the energies of the missionary interests in the State.

Immediately after the union was effected, the individuals who were elected by the State Convention at their meeting in Elbridge, were chosen to act as the Board under the new organization.

The Board, under the new arrangement, met at Fabius, May 18, 1825. Eld. J. N. Brown made a report of his proceedings as a missionary at Buffalo, which was deemed highly satisfactory. Br. A. M. Beebee was appointed editor of the "Baptist Register," and general agent for the super

intendence of its concerns. They proceeded to instruct their missionaries and agents to exert themselves in obtaining subscribers for the "Baptist Register;" and also to receive moneys due for the same. They likewise agreed that the publication of the "Western Magazine" should be continued to the close of the fourth volume, and then discontinued; and that the present editors continue the management of the concern until its completion.

In consequence of numerous applications, they appointed missionaries for the term of two years and eighteen weeks. They also appointed Elds. J. Peck, R. Powell, and E. Galusha, an executive committee, to manage the whole of the concerns of the missionary establishment at Oneida. And having transacted some local business, they adjourned, to meet at Sangersfield, the 3d Wednesday in August nextEld. Haynes to preach, Eld. Comstock his substitute.

BAPTIST MISSIONARY CONVENTION.

We purpose now to give a brief sketch of the rise of the Baptist Missionary Convention of the State of New York and its vicinity.

In the year 1821 a general opinion prevailed that the time had arrived when the strength of the denomination should be concentrated, and brought more distinctly to bear upon the great missionary enterprise. There had existed, for several years, small missionary societies and associations, in different parts of the State, operating to the extent of their means, but without concert; and it was the opinion of many judicious brethren that a missionary state convention might be formed, upon such principles as would secure the united action of all these bodies, and bring to their aid a much greater amount of means than could otherwise be obtained; and thus enable them to do more in supplying the destitute with the gospel than they were doing. With these views the Hudson River Association, at their session in August, 1821, adopted the following resolutions:

"Resolved, That a circular letter be written and addressed to all the regular Baptist associations in this State; inviting them to express distinctly, in their minutes, their deliberate opinion on the propriety of constituting a general convention of the State of New York, to be composed of delegates from every association in the State which may be favorable to the measure; and that a committee be appointed to draft such a circular, expressing the object to be gained by such a convention, and present it to the next association.

"Resolved, That Brn. Malcom, Leonard, and Sommers, be that committee."

At the meeting of the Otsego Association, the September following, the aforesaid resolution was referred to a committee, consisting of Brn. Elijah F. Willey, Joseph More, and