THE PANOPLIST, AND MISSIONARY MAGAZINE. No. 6.. XL. 1 JUNE, 1815. REVIEW. 1 Discourse, occasioned by the Proclamation of Peace between Great Britain and the United States of America. Preached on Lord's day, Feb. 26, 1815; and published by request. By THOMAS WILLIAMS, Minister of the Pacific Congregational Church and Society in Providence. Providence; H. Mann & Co. pp. 23. VOL. XI. the inquiry, how it appears that wars shall hereafter wholly cease, the preacher replies, that it does not thus appear from the native character of mankind, nor from any events that have yet taken place; but solely from what God has declared in the Scriptures. The way, in which the preacher supposes that universal peace will be established, is de scribed under these two particulars; the publication of the Gospel through the whole earth, and the effusion of the Holy Spirit on all nations. We entirely approve of these sentiments, and are deliberately of opinion, that Christians ought to keep them constantly in view, in all their plans for doing good to mankind. It is not sufficient to prove, that war is unjust, cruel, unwise, impolitic, and ruinous. Mankind have always known this. The understanding is easily convinced; but, before the world will be reformed, the hearts of men must be changed. We have no room for extracts; but cordially recommend this sermon to the perusal of our readers. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. "Mr. Evarts's letter of 24th ult. was received a few days since at Marietta. A storm that prevents our travelling, gives us time to acknowledge the receipt of it, and to report to you the progress we have been enabled to make in our mission. We left Philadelphia on the 15th of August and reached Pittsburgh on the 28th. There we tarried a few days waiting the arrival of the Bibles and Tracts committed to our care; which we had rea son to expect would have been there sooner than ourselves. But as we could not be long detained, we left orders for them to be forwarded to Marietta, and went on our way. Brother Mills went through Steubenville to Wheeling, (Vir.) and brother Smith through Cannonsburgh and Washington. At Cannons burgh there is a college, which has been a great blessing to that portion of the country. Most of the clergy have been educated at it. The Rev. Mr. Wiley is the principal. He is assisted by two others. The present number of students is about forty. There is a fund here for the ed ucation of pious young men for the ministry, capable of supporting a small number. At Washington, 6 miles off, there is another college. The Rev. Mr. Brown is the principal. There are about sixty students. At Washing, brother Smith was present at a meeting for the formation of a Bible Society, and assisted in its organization. It was a pleasant meeting. A number of clergymen and others, of differentreligious denominations, were present. The business was entered upon with unanimity and with engagedness. The Society is denominated "The Bible Society at Washington, (Penn.)” The Rev. John Anderson, is the President. About twenty persons subscribed the constitution. There is a prospect of 150 or 200 members. The people of the western parts of Pennsylva nia, are perhaps more highly favored with respect to religious privileges than any other portion of the western country. And they appear to prize their privileges. Brother Smith attended a sacrament at Wheeling, which is near the borders of Pennsylvania, and saw females of respectable ap pearance walking four or five miles to meeting. The Lord we hope is about to excite this people to exert themselves in extending these privileges to their destitute neighbors and brethren. "We met at Grave Creek, having been separated for sevcral days. As we were travelling on the banks of the Ohio, we were forcibly impressed with the idea, that a mission ought, if possible, to be speedily establish ed up and down this river. Permit us, dear Sir, through you, to urge this station upon the notice of your Society; and perhaps of other missionary societies in New England. Between Steubenville and Marietta, (a distance of about a hundred miles,) there is no regular cler gyman. Only one place, Wheel ing, is supplied with Presbyteri an preaching half the time. This ground seems also to be very much deserted by Baptists and Methodists. There might be, on both sides of the river, as many as eight or ten stations selected, where very considerable congregations might be convened to hear the Gospel preached. These stations might be visited by a missionary once in a fort night or three weeks: and in this way as many people would be supplied with the Gospel, as perhaps could be supplied by the same trouble and expense, in any other portion of our new country. The people on this station, so far as we could learn, appear to be willing to attend meeting. At Grave Creek, brother Mills appointed a lecture; and in about two hours more than fifty people came to gether. A missionary on this station, might have frequent opportunities of exerting a saluta ry influence upon the boatmen that navigate the river; who are perhaps a set of men as much corrupted, as any in the country. The distribution of Bibles and Religious Tracts, both among the boatmen and the inhabitants, would be a very pleasant and promising part of his business. The river bottom, extending one or two miles in width, is extremely fertile, and will no doubt in a few years have a very nu merous population. To pre occupy this field is a matter of immense importance to the interests of the Redeemer's king. dom in this vicinity. "We arrived at Marietta on the 8th inst. On our inquiring into the state of the Ohio Bible Society, we were happy to learn, that it appears to be flourishing, and bids fair to be a powerful instrument in diffusing the knowl edge of the Scriptures throughout the western world. This Society was formed about two years since, when brothers Mills and Schermerhorn were at Marietta on their former mission. During the first year after its formation, the Society received from subscribers nearly two hundred dollars. Since the commencement of the present year it has received nearly four hundred dollars. This Society has received from the Massachusetts Bible Society a donation of one hundred dollars; from the Con necticut Bible Society three donations amounting to five hundred Bibles; from the New York Bible Society a donation of one hundred Bibles; and from the Philadelphia Bible Society a do❤ nation of thirty-one Bibles and sixty-eight Testaments. The So. ciety has actually distributed four hundred and eighty one Bibles and sixty-seven Testaments, and has now sent to Philadelphia to purchase four hundred Bibles Philadelphia for six hundred Bibles. Another is formed at Chilicothe; and another is contemplated at Cincinnati. Measures are now taking to unite these several Societies, and others that may be formed, into one general State Society. While we tarried at Marietta, our Bibles and Tracts arrived. We repacked them as soon as possible, and ordered them to different places, still farther to the west and south. We are now again on our journey. Whether we shall be able to penetrate as far west as St. Louis, we know not. It is apprehended to be dangerous travelling through the Territories, on account of hostile Indians. May the Lord direct us in the path of duty, and be our Protector; then we shall be safe, "Hitherto the Lord has wonderfully preserved us. We can say with truth, that on our long journey no harm worth mention ing has been suffered to befall us. Why then should we now distrust the providence of God? We proceed therefore with confidence, followed, we hope, by many prayers." The next letter, which was received by the Committee, was dated at St. Louis, Missouri Territory, Nov. 7, 1814. It ought here to be mentioned, that Messrs. Mills and Smith were instructed to state, on proper occasions, that, as the expense of the mission was considerable, donations would be received towards defraying it, from any persons who felt able and disposed to contribute, in the principal towns and settlements which should be visited. It was thought that the tendency of such a measure would be alto gether beneficial; as it is undoubtedly a benefit to the new settlements, that the inhabitants should do what they can toward supplying themselves with ministers. "Our last communication to you was dated, near Lancaster, Ohio, Sept. 21. We have now delayed writing to you, longer than we otherwise should, be cause our plans of conduct have hitherto been somewhat undetermined. We did not know, that we should be able to reach this place. It was thought by many well-informed people to be dangerous attempting to come hither. The savages have been often committing depredations and murders in this portion of our country. But through the kind providence and protection of our God, we have passed safely through the wilderness, and have now reached the most western point of our contem plated tour.. "At. Lancaster, we called on the Rev. Mr. Wright, a presbyterian clergyman. He has formerly been a laborious missionary; and has much information respecting the religious state of the western country. Since his settlement in that place, and within six years, he has distributed four hundred Bibles. He is therefore well acquainted with the proportionate number of the destitute, in Ohio. And, in his opinion, as many families, as one in five, are not possessed of the Scriptures. According to this estimate, more than thirteen thousand Bibles are necessary, in order that there may be one to each family. Here is a large field for the exercise of Chris tian liberality. Mr. Wright re lates some signal instances of the blessed effects of giving away the Bible. He has seen a man notorious for indifference to religion, and for profaneness, suddenly arrested in his career of stupidity and folly, by this simple means. He has seen him turned about, and in the judgment of charity thoroughly converted from the error of his ways, and made an humble worshipper of the Lord Jesus. And all this was effected by the gift of a Bible. What Christian what friend of humanity, would not give sixty cents to bring about an event like this! ་་ was there, which will be a powerful instrument, in the diffusion of the Sacred Scriptures. The ladies there have taken the precedency in that labor of love. They have associated themselves under the denomination of, "The Female Society of Cincinnati for charitable purposes." They were about to send to the managers of the Ohio Bible Society, to procure for them one hundred Bi bles. Agreeably to your instructions, we made known to the Rev. Mr. Wilson the circumstances with respect to the support of the mission; and, at his request, after an evening ser"From Lancaster we proceed- vice in which brother Mills ed to Chilicothe; tarried there a preached, a contribution day or two, and went on to Cin- lifted (to use the phrase of the cinnati The presbytery in that country) in aid of the mission. vicinity, had been for some time It amounted to twenty dollars→ endeavoring to procure the for: to which the Ladies' Society mation of a Bible Society for added twenty dollars more. of the country between the Mia- these, and other similar donamies. But they had not effected tions, a strict account will be it. We suggested to a number given to your Society. At Cinof clergymen, who were provi- cinnati we submitted the quesdentially in town, the expedition to the decision of a num ency of proceeding immediately to the formation of a Society. They approved of the proposal, and gave notice of a meeting for the purpose. The next day we had the satisfaction of seeing a number of clergymen and others, of different denominations, as. sembled. But as many were not present, whose assistance was desired, it was thought best to postpone the matter until the next week. A committee was appointed to prepare a constitution, and notice was given of another meeting.Cincinnati contains 5,000 inhabitants, and has a rich back country. We doubt not, therefore, that before this time a Society is formed ber of Presbyterian clergymen, whether we ought to attempt to go through the western Territories to this place. They unanimously decided that we ought to go forward. We therefore went on: But we did it with some degree of hesitancy. For we were obliged, in a great measure, to relinquish a promis. ing field of usefulness in the neighborhood of Cincinnati, and also in the neighborhood of Lexington, (Ken.) "As we passed through the Indiana Territory, we kept steadily in view the great object of procuring the formation of a Bible Society there. We cou versed with gentlemen of the |