Every reflecting mind must both see and feel, that in this land of freedom, where government is founded on principle, and sustained by public sentiment, an enlightened conscience, on which the laws can fasten their obligations, is essential to the perpetuity of our privileges. And yet the patriotism of many, nay, of most, who make the loudest professions, does any thing but improve the conscience and increase the force of obligation. To brawl and bustle at elections, and get drunk on the fourth of July, and maintain a partisan warfare in politics, and seek, by any means, for places of profit and power, make up the sum total of the claims of many who demand the honour of exclusive love of country. To such belongs a reckless disregard of all the sacred ties of religion. With them, it is the soul of pa triotism to desecrate the Sabbath, and to profane the holy name of God, and to indulge the passions and appetites in unrestrained license, and to blaspheme the Lord Jesus Christ, and to scoff at the hopes, and the fears, and the conscientious scruples of his faithful followers. men into his service. Such means have no power to form a character to be relied on, when the pressure of fear is off, and temptation at hand. Indeed, the elasticity of mind naturally seeks relief from all force, and will not be held in check by high-handed authority, any longer than its crushing weight is actually felt. The kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ is not of this world, nor does he ask for human laws to sustain his claims, or to advance his interests. He requires the voluntary homage of the heart, and none else can be rewarded with his approbation. And, besides, would it be possible, were any wild or wicked enough to dream of such a measure, to unite the different sects in seeking for its introduction, or the people in its adoption? But, notwithstanding all this is so plain, that the fool need not err therein, yet there are men, in multitudes, who seek to prejudice the public mind against those who are employing the only means which can effectually improve the moral condition of the country. This means, in a large view of the subject, is EDUCATION;-not mere intellectual train From such patriotism may the Lording, but the culture of the whole being, deliver our beloved country. If this government be founded on principle, and must be sustained by public sentiment, then patriotism is not vice, but virtue, not atheism and infidelity, but vital and consistent piety,-does not consist in violating good and wholesome laws, but in an honest observance of them. By what means can the population of this great country, increasing, as it is, with fearful rapidity, be so enlightened and reformed, that our boasted liberty shall not degenerate into gross licentiousness? How shall the conscience of the people acquire such authority, that through its dic. tates, the good and wholesome laws of the land shall be as the voice of God? These inquiries involve the well-being, not only of the generation that now is, but of mil. lions yet unborn. On the other side of the ocean, the answer might be, "Give to religion a legal establishment, and enforce its observances by pains and penalties, and compel the support of its ministers." But in this country, all are persuaded, that religion cannot be maintained by legislative authority, nor propagated by secular power; that pains and penalties (though they may, by operating on the fears of men, restrain them from overt acts of iniquity) cannot convert them from sin to holiness; and that even God himself does not coerce and especially as a moral, social, accounta. ble agent. That education, which only invigorates and enlarges the mind, leaving the conscience uninformed, and the heart undisciplined, but sharpens and burnishes the implements of mischief, and teaches the dextrous use of them. Now, of all the schools in the world, the school of Christ is the most efficient, and therefore the most valuable, in affording that kind of education which is demanded by the moral constitution and social nature of man. "The pulpit, I say the pulpit, (in the sober use Must stand acknowledged, while the world shall The most important and effectual guard, There should not, indeed, be an exclusive reliance upon this means; but, then, there is an intimate connexion between this and all other sources of moral influence, whereby habits of virtue and piety, and of healthful intellectual exercise, are formed. To meet statedly, and at short intervals, is agreeable to the social principle of man ; while to mingle the affections of gratitude, and praise, and love to a holy God and to one another; and this, on the Sabbath day, kept holy in obedience to the commandment;-and to attend se. No one, are taught; and the classical academy, or college, or the friends and patrons of these important institutions. And there are the men who meet with pleasure all the demands of the laws of their country, and, praying for all in authority, live peace. able and sober lives, in all godliness and honesty. If these be facts, and we challenge all gainsayers to disprove them, then patriotism-that is, the love of country, which prompts to the use of the best means for the promotion of its perpetuity. and prosperity, is to be found in a voluntary and liberal support of the institutions of religion, and especially the preaching of the word of God by well instructed and devoted men. riously and devoutly to the instructions of a pious and well informed minister of the Word, must exert a refining and elevating influence upon the morals of the people. What thus, upon the statement, appears likely to result, is proved to be fact, all over the land, and the world. who has travelled to any extent in our own country, can have failed to observe, if indeed he be a man of observation, the striking contrast between the neighbourboods, towns, counties, and even states, where the Gospel has been long and ably and faithfully preached, and where no such blessing has been enjoyed. Who, that, in his journeying, has noticed the moral condition of the country, has not felt, and often felt, as one passing through a long and dreary wilderness, until at length his attention was delightfully arrested, and fixed upon some verdant spot, where all was freshness, and order, and beauty? These green spots are the towns, villages and neighbourhoods, where our blessed Master's schoolhouse has long been established, and its privileges enjoy-ful, safe, and happy home, and all whose ed. There the children are early taught|| to know and revere the name of God.— There, too, will be found the Sabbath School, where young consciences are enlightened to know and enforce duty.And there will be found the common school, in which religion as well as letters As nothing else can so extensively and certainly effect the salvation of souls, so nothing else can exert a moral influence so wide, and deep, and blessed, and so full of security to all that is dear to the heart of the Christian and the patriot. If these things be so, then all that love the souls of men, and all that love a peace hearts glow with love of country, ought to be, and will be, the patrons of those noble enterprises, which aim at planting a church, and sustaining a faithful missionary, in every village, and every neighbour. hood of this country, and of this wide world. CORRESPONDENCE OF THE A. H. M. S. [We present our readers, this month, with a variety of unusually interesting extracts from the correspondence of the Society. It is true, the nature of the case prevents us from reporting scenes of such deep and thrilling interest, as are witnessed by mission. aries to heathen lands. We have to relate no tales of horror, like the burning of widows on the funeral piles of their husbands, or of infants exposed to the monsters of the deep, or offered in sacrifice to gods of wood and stone;-but we ask the Christians of our country to read the details of labour, which our Domestic Missionaries furnish from month to month, and to say whether they are not doing a great work.— There may be less of romantic interest attached to their reports, than to those of foreign missionaries, but are their labours, on that account, less valuable-less necessary to that triumph of the church, for which we all labour and pray?] MISSOURI. From Rev. J. M. Sadd, St. Francis Co., Since my last report, I have assisted in the labours of eight protracted meetings, distant from here from twenty to seventy miles. Three of them were at the churches which I have organized-Farmington, Whitewater, and Castor, the two latter German. I have also been engaged in endeavouring to raise some funds to build a house suitable for public worship and a school. I have already spoken, in my reports, of the great necessity of something being done for schools, in this section of country. Sabbath Schools have already created a greater desire for learning among the youth, and many parents begin to feel the importance of having better opportunities for education. Lights and Shadows. We shall be under the necessity of hold Calloway, Mo. ing all our meetings, this winter, in private From Rev. R. L. M‘Afee, Round Prairie, houses, unless the weather should be so warm as to permit having them in the court-house. We have no house for a school of any kind, and can have no Sab. bath School this winter. * * * I do no think the Lord is forsaking us. We feel encouraged, especially at our prayer meet-present, of every name, covenanted for ings, which are full and interesting. Some time in the latter part of Septem. ber, I called upon professors to enter into covenant to pray, especially, for a revival of religion in this church. All who were that purpose. From that time, most of the professors of religion seemed to feel that they could not be satisfied without a blessing. On the Friday before the third The Baptists have had quite a revival in a settlement about six miles from me. I organized a Sabbath School among them, last spring, which seemed to be the begin-Sabbath of October, we commenced a ning of good things. The seriousness commenced in that school, which has resulted in a large number of conversions. There were, at first, a few Baptists, who were friends of the benevolent institutions of the day, while they were much opposed by a number of their brethren, and some ministers, who have openly declared their determination to have no connexion with Missionaries, Sabbath Schools, Temperance Societies, or any other of the benevolent societies. I have had a constant struggle with this species of opposition, which I believe is the offspring of ignorance, more than any thing else. me, The Castor church, thirty miles from which I organized a little time since, has many difficulties to contend with.They have no preaching, only as I can occasionally visit them. There is quite a change in the settlement, in regard to temperance, profaneness, &c. and a number of young people hopefully converted. At a sacramental season in the White Water church, on the second Sabbath in November, six persons were added to the church; the assembly was very large and solemn. The settlement is about thirty miles from Farmington. One German, low with the consumption, sent for me to visit him between forty and fifty miles. Retrospect of the year. When I look back to the time I came here, about one year since, and recollect that only one old Presbyterian woman could be found here, and she had joined a Methodist church, and that the idea of Presbyterianism was so revolting to many, I feel constrained to say "Hitherto the four days' meeting. The Lord was pleased to bless the faithful exhibition of his truth to the awakening of a few careless sinners, who, upon being called upon in the usual way, presented themselves to be conversed with, and prayed for. Many, who evidently felt much, did not take that step. The whole work is, as yet, much more limited than we had hoped for. Some that I know of have lost their impressions; but they all are still very tender on the subject. "The wrath of man shall praise thee.” There was a Sabbath School in M., the fore part of last summer, which was taught in a common school-house. About the middle of the summer, the door was closed against it, by some enemies of that institution. The Sabbath School was discontinued, as there was no other house in which it could be taught. The closing of the house aroused the indignation of many, and induced them to assist in building a Presbyterian meeting-house, who, otherwise, would not have done any thing, and without whose assistance, the house could not have been built. ILLINOIS. From Rev. A. Hale, Bethel, Bond Co., Ill. Soon after the present quarter began, I rode about fifty miles, taking a circuit, almost around the place where my church is located. I did not preach at all publicly, but almost constantly, from house to house. I occupied in this visit, from Tuesday morning till Friday night. In all this tour, I found evidence that God was at work by his Holy Spirit. version. Our Sabbath School has been kept up during the summer with interest, and as the season is now advanced, and the number of children lessened, we bring in as many as possible of the older members of the congregation, to take part in the weekly examination in the Union questions. Indeed, when I look back on the time I have spent among this dear people, I am astonished at what God has wrought. It seems to me that we have not stirred in his service without finding his blessing. All that seems necessary to advance the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom, is to act as if He would be as good as his word. An awakening in Bethel Church. A few Sabbaths afterwards we held a camp meeting in my church. I was assisted by brothers Beecher and Sturtevant, from the Illinois college. They came in the Spirit, and their preaching was blessed of God. Brother Ewing was also with us a part of the time. About ten individuals hope they found peace in believing during the meeting, and about the same number, who had previously indulged hope in the mercy of God, united with the church.The members of the church were generally much affected with a sense of their sinful imperfection in the discharge of duty, and our season of communion was, I trust, what such a season should be, a season of real renewing of our covenant Vows; attended with humiliation for our sins, and a fresh application to the great atoning sacrifice for pardon and accept-who are exceedingly jealous of Presbyteance with God. Usefulness of Elders. The elders of this church have shown a commendable zeal in the good cause.For many Sabbaths in succession here, two of the elders, and perhaps the same number of the other brethren, have deprived themselves of the privilege of worshipping in our own sanctuary, and gone out to assist in instructing in the Sabbath Schools in destitute neighbourhoods. They have received, and, I trust, practically adopted the doctrine, that it is the duty of every man to do good to all men, as the Lord gives the opportunity. Our efforts in these ways have not been in vain.— Some precious immortal souls will doubt. less rejoice throughout eternity, in consequence of these self-denying efforts. The Reward of Self-denial and Effort. "IRONSIDES." We are surrounded by a population rians. There has been a church of ironsides. They come out decidedly against all the benevolent operations of the day,-Bible, Tract, Missionary, Sabbath School and Temperance Societies; and it is but a short time since I heard one of their preachers say in their church meeting, "that out of a church of seventythree members, there was not a praying man, nor one individual fit for a deacon;" and, indeed, they have no deacon in the church. There have been several cases of hopeful conversion since I came to dwell among this people. Surely the field is sufficiently ample, and already white. I feel that my situation is extremely difficult, and the path of duty often seems so Whilst thus we have been endeavour-hedged up, that I know not which way to turn. I feel that I need much grace, much wisdom, much patience, and perse verance. ENCOURAGING FACTS IN INDIANA. From Rev. J. A. Carnahan, Lafayette, ing to water others, the Lord has not left us as the barren "heath in the desert."The members of the church have generally been alive; a spirit of prayer has prevailed among us, in behalf of the impenitent; and especially of late, it has been proposed that, as a church, we should remember in our prayers before God, the few unconverted persons in our families, and resolve to give the Lord, "no rest" till he arise and have mercy on theired to our numbers, nine by letter, and souls. You are aware that the number nine on examination. I think I can say of the impenitent among us is small. Of with some degree of confidence that I see adults, only a few souls are out of the ark the spirit of piety increasing among my of safety. It would do your heart goodpeople. It is with special gratitude to to hear the brethren pray for their con- Almighty God that I would relate some During five months, the Lord has add I recently held a communion at the Graham church. It commenced on Friday, when the anniversary of the Sabbath School, in that congregation, was held.— On the Sabbath day, five were added to the church by examination, and one by letter-all, I believe, the fruit of the camp meetings. Three of them are young heads of families, the other three, interesting young men-all of whom, I have some hope of seeing hereafter clothed with the embassy of God. One of them is a case recent occurrences among us. For some mittee, I complied with their invitation. weeks past, there has appeared in theThe principal reason which determined bounds of the Lafayette and Oxford my mind, was the effort they were dispochurches, a considerable degree of serious-sed to make to secure the means of grace. ness, and more than usual attention to the means of grace: this seriousness has gradually been increasing. The last four days has been a time of much solemnity; during this time, we have had a communion season and many religious exercises. On the holy Sabbath, I trust we had a communion season indeed. On this occasion, eleven were received to the communion of the church, and nine of these by examination. The whole of the exercises were attended with much solemnity. Many of the ungodly appeared to be deep-of peculiar interest. I had conversed with ly impressed. A number requested the prayers of the ministers and people of God; a few were led to indulge the hope of pardon. The last day of the meeting to which I have referred, was the day set apart by the Governor of the state, for fasting and prayer, on account of the cholera. This circumstance, with the thought of its being the last day of our solemnities, made it a peculiarly solemnings to one of his sisters, who prayed all time. I think that the seriousness on this day was considerably greater than on any day of our solemnities. I believe that many went away with only one regret, that the meeting had come to a close. the other two, on the subject, and directed them to pray over it, and look to God, and ask what they should do; but the situation of this one was such, I considered it useless to mention the subject to him. He has a widowed mother, bending over the grave, and four sisters depending on his daily labour for support. But his mind could not rest, and he disclosed his feel night for him at the camp meeting. He told her "he could not content himself; his farm had lost all its attraction; and while at work, his whole study was, how he should get an opportunity to prepare for the ministry." He expressed the same feelings to me, with tears in his eyes. I trust the Lord From Rev. J. U. Parsons, Jefferson Co., will open a way for him. Ind. Result of a Camp Meeting. From Rev. J. Chute, Fort Wayne, Ind. I am almost daily discovering some A Canal made without Alcohol. new instances of the precious fruit of this meeting. It sometimes discovers Since my last report, a second letting of itself shooting out in rich clusters upon the canal has taken place, and the same those branches, of which Christ is the provision as in the first, of excluding the vine, in the holy lives of professors, use of ardent spirits on the line, was rigidand sometimes is seen in the trem-ly adhered to. The engineer, who is a bling solicitude of a once hardened sinner. I am often told by members of the church, "I never felt as at those meetings; I have looked at things very differently since. I feel that something must be done." And they are at work, many of them, much more efficiently than before. My fondest hopes have been realized, in regard to their influence upon the general standard of piety. Soon after the camp meeting, I received a pressing solicitation from the Ridge church, to labour with them statedly. With the advice of members of the Missionary Com pious and worthy man, has informed me, that the rule has been strictly attended to. No instance, to his knowledge, has occurred, in which ardent spirits have been given to the workmen. I am confident the contractors have no desire to be released from their obligations; self-interest, were there no higher motive, would prompt them to adhere to the rule. Our Temperance Society holds its meetings monthly, and we generally have had some addition to our number. We have spread the New-York State Temperance Society's circular into most of the families in the |