THE SALVATION OF THE WORLD TO BE BOUGHT :BY MEANS OF THE CONVEBSION OF YOUNG CHILDREN.

A SERMON~

DELIVERED IN mGH STREETCHUDCH, PORTLAND. BEFORE THE

MAINE MISSIONARY SOCIETY,

JUNE 25~ 1862.

rs

BY JOHN O. FISKE,

Pastor of Winter Street Ohurah, B&tb.

AUGUSTA: !)RINTED AT THE KEl\'NEBEC JOURNAL OFFICE.

1862.

SER~ION

PSALM 8: 2. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength beca.use of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

This sublime and solemn psalm seems to have been composed at night, perhaps when the holy writer fed his father's flocks on the plains of Bethlehem. lie had been contemplating the starry fir­mament, for no mention, it will be observed, is made of the sun. II When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers; the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man that thou visitest him?' ~ The more he considers the glory shed in such lavish majesty there, the greater is the wonder that any attention should be bestowed on the earth. And yet he finds the exhibitions of the divine glory here on earth, and exclaims, H 0 Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! " Yes, in all the earth :-not merely in the towering mountains, not only in the boundless deep, in levia­than and behemoth in their pride, but signally displayed in the faltering accents of babes. "Who hast set thy glory above the heavens." But not merely there :-" out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine ene­mies, that th9u mightest still the enemy and the avenger."

The sacred writer has here revealed to us a truth, the power of which is far too little felt. In the world how often when little children manifest something of religious emotion, and seem to be truly conve~d, are the countenances of some beholders deformed with the smile of unbelief, as though all the feelings of children must necessarily be transitory and superficial, and no deep and lasting spiritual improvement could possibly occur in them: and painful misgivings and fears chill the hearts and weaken the faith, and hush the yoice even of true christians, who so warmly welcom~ all other hopeful converts with ~ manifested joy! People sometimes seem to desire children first to grow up into a matured, tough and

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hardened impiety, in order that by means of these perilous years of abominable transgressions a spiritual change for the better af­terwards can be clearly seen, and safely confessed to be true. But

. how different from all this are the teachings of the divine word. "Out of the mouth of· babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength," (or, as Prof. Tholuck translates it, It prepared for thy­self an army.") In the declarations and manifestations of the divine glory on the part of little children is the peculiar home and hiding of God's power on the earth. Through, and in them particularly he designs to manifest his strength, because of his enemies, that he may still the enemy and the avenger. This is God's chosen way. By the conversion and holy lives of those who are very young God designs eminently to subdue his enemies, and fill all this earth with his praise. Not merely-not so much-by the con­version of the mature in years, the mighty in intellect, the high in place, the large in learning-but by the regeneration oflittle children -there is an empbasi~ here in the very'early age referred to-and so out of the mouth of babes and sucklings, confounding the enmity of Satan and changing this world of rebels into a world of friends. I know how imperfectly this has been realized as yet; but in a future, predicted day it will be completely fulfilled, and conver­sions will all occur in the season of early childhood, when It they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, know the Lord; for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord."

Assembled as we are this day to deliberate and do with respect to the successful preaching of the gospel of Christ throughout our State, I have thought it might not be inappropriate to call your attention to the importance of directing our efforts and prayers with more of earnestness aJ;ld faith towards the conversion of little children. If God has not only commanded us to labor for the ad­vancement of his cause, but has also indicated the most feasible means of doing it, it is quite pertinent for us to consider these indi­cated means, as well as the desirable end; quite important not only to be inspired with proper motives, and to labor for a proper end, but also to heed the divine suggestions as to the best possible way.

In illustrating then the sentiment that God has ordained his strength, and so the main strength of his church to be found in the true regenera~on and con.version of those who are very young, let me remark, first:

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1. That the deepest and most la.sting impressions .of character are most naturally and usually made in very early years. It is very unphilosopbical, as well as un scriptural, to think little of .the impressions made upon very youthful minds. The little child very far exceeds the same individual in mature years in its power of permanently and distinctly remembering what passes before its mind. The deepest foundation of a building always determines the general shape of the superstructure; and so in the influences which operate upon the mind of a very young child there is usually something which outlives all subsequent instructions and impres­sions :-struggling mightily, and often unconquerably even unto death against the deductions of reason, the informations of the understanding, and the determined efforts of the will. I am inclined to believe that the general moral impressions made upon the mind of a. child three, four, five or six years of age, are more indelible, more potent in fixing his future destiny, than any human influences that can possibly be exerted on him afterwards. These early.in­structions and impressions which come from a mother's tears and prayers and tender tones, warning, winning and teaching her child, seem to be in character like the earth's central volcanic fires in our globe. No matter what pressure of other and sinful influ­ence you may pile upon them, there theyarp. in indestructible force; and in some hour or other, somehow or other, by the favoring aids and agencies of God's providence and Holy Spirit, they will break through the mountains, and lift the ocean and the land. And so an angry temper, a cruel disposition, a covetous, selfish spirit, indifference to and contempt of spiritual things indulged and cul­tivated then, are apt to hopelessly disfigure the soul through life, if they do not destroy it fore'\'"er.

Dr. Bushnell in his Christian ~ urture, a work, which with some exaggerated statements, and some phraseology very liable tu be misunderstood and mislead, is yet of great value to any intel­ligentchristian parent, express:8 it as his II solemn conyiction, th~t more, as a general fact, is done, or lost hy neglect of doing, on a child's immortality, in the first three years of his life, than -in all his years of discipline afterwards." p. 248.

Childhood is the season for profound and formative impressions. It is wretched unreasonableness to think lightly of .the religious lessons which children receh-e, and the religious exercises through which they pass. The general analogy of the divine providence

OlIght;. instruct us in1!epni to this. 'Row often it~·is that by ap~ntIr tri1ling causes our heav8lllY; Father achieves the most

, amaziD8 resultsJ Almost as 8 general rule, what, seem to .bethe weak,thiBgsovermaster the mighty. The gentle, steady pressure usually_oes more to shape and form than the sudden, terrible strQke :-thedew.s, ,the quiet rain, the noiselessSUD8hine; atrect the surAce of the globe &r more than the thunderbolt· and avalanche. And so the delicate snrroundings of childhood are the chief ~en· Ci~8 .infixing the destinies of the spirit. It is reasonable ·th~n-in accordance with the ordinary methods of the formation' of charac· ter.-.-;thatout of the mouth of babes and sucklings God should ord&ins1it'ength, or prepare himself an army, and so most ,effectu­ally still all the enmity and wrath which rage agai,nst his truth and C&118e •

. ~Butnot . only is' there this general capability of the formation of a fixed character ata very early age;' I remark, secondly:

:.2. There is a peculiar fitness in the age of early childhood for theiormation of a true christiancbaracter. God evidently 80 ra. gards it, and has therefore declared, l(They that seek meearl,-.shaIl findme." To others such a specific promise is not made. Others, hardened, entangled, ;blinded by years.of fearful habits of sin, may seek with bitterness and sorrow, and fail; but not these youthful souls. II Tbey that seek me early shall find me." . And he comes withhissolemQ commands specially. to children ,. saying, "Remem­ber now thy Creator" :-or Creators, as it is in the original, inti­mating perhaps that the very highest doctrine of our religion is not unfitted to be commended to the remembrance of a child­II ,remember now thy Oreator in the days of thy youth"-in the quiet, sunny retreats of an early home, before tho cares of life have come to barden, and its inereasingpollutions to defile: "while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say,' I have no pleasure in them: while the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain,"-before the moral perceptions have become dim, and the great lights of heavenly truth arc 4eeply shrouded . by soopticism and bewildering speeulatioos, and tempest upon tempest of Ratanic temptations beatsnpon the wretched sinner"ssou1. God's com­mand is,pu..t not off the lleginning of a life of piety until you are mature .and old, but enter upon it in the day:s, of youth and general immaturity. In tbatgrowing season begin to grow aright. Men

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1113,. 'say or thiiik Uttle· children cannot bec0me trUe christians­God ddee'not endorse so monstrons an error. Jesus cries It suffer the' little children" -there is no mistranslation here-lito come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

That ready faith, that strong memory, that pliability of temper, that freedom frbm the fixedness of bad habits, which render youth '80 favorable a season for education in every other respect, emi­nently fit it for receiving the lessons of true piety. Just as early as there is in children a capacity for doing wrong-and at how early ;an age, christian parents, are you not able to detect this ?-just s~ .early is there a capacity for doing right, in a holy, evangelical sense. Children can do right; and they can have formed within them a disposition to do right i-and that is regeneration, or tbe experience of religion.

It is pride, it is high thoughts of our own understandings, it is the iron power of the disposition to do in future as we have done hi the past, it is the love of sin long nurtured and cherished, it is stubborn unbelief, that are the chief obstacles in the way of the conversion of adults. N ow these obstacles have not yet become so many and so mighty in little children as in older persons; and therefore it is an eminently favorable time to labor for and expect their true piety.

Talk about their not being able to understand the grea~ myste­ries and truths of religion! God has not given'his gospel to the world only for philosophers ~ only for the profoundly metaphysical and learned; nor has that ever been the class of persons most fa­vorably disposed for receiving it. Long, long ago, our Saviour -exclaimed, II I thank thee, 0 Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes." An that is required of us to be-. Heve and to do in order to salvation is very simple-level to the feeblest capacity of every a.ccountable creature. And let me say, that the child who just believes the teachings of the Bible without a moment's doubt about them, who believes, for example, that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are all to be truly wor­shipped, and yet there is but one God, is a far more reasonable being than the sceptic who tasks his puny faculties to' comprehena. the infinite Creator, and then challenges the inspiration of the Bible because he cannot do it, and explain how aU these things caR be. The incredulity and sllspiciousness and slowness of trust

s V!hich :~~ experience o~ riper years c~tiva~s within 11S, and com. mands with regard- tQ ,human, t,estimony, are, all groundless and unreasonable in regard to t};le word of God. The more prompt and unchallenging our faith in God's teachings, the better are we taught; and so the child is better fitted to become a true and pro­foundly instructed chriatian, than a hardened, impenitent, unbe­lieVing adult.

Little children eannot understand the profoundly mysterious truths of religion, and therefore it is useless to instruct them con­cerning these truths, and expect their intelligent piety in early youth! And who can solve all the hard questions that may be asked by way of explaining these doctrines? But as to little children being incapable of understanding the simple facts which these 'a.octrines present, I think I can say from observation and from ex.perience, it is not true. I know how the mind of a child under ten yeats of age can wrestle and struggle with, and bow to and embrace some of the most puzzling articles of our faith, that, for example, of God's eternal purposes extending to our every act: and' hoviby such a child the other great truths of atonement by the blood of Christ, justification by faith, and the l'egeneration of the heart by the Holy Ghost were understood in all that is essell­tial to being born again, as well then, as now, after twenty years of ministerial life. Dr. Archibald Alexander tells us of his listen­ing when lie 'was~ot more than four years of age to a. ~ermon on the text, U if any man love not our Lord J esUB Christ, let him be Anathema, Maranatha;1'1 and of the eagerness with which he watched for the explanation of these two foreign words, Anathema. and Maranatha, which he had never heard before, and how he never forgot it. His own experience, and a sounder, more cautious and reliable theologian it would be hard to find than Dr. Archibald Alexander, made him very earnest and emphatic in inculcating upon parents the importance of early taking theiJ: children to the house of God, as the means of their salvation.

Then there is another teason why there is a peculiar fitness in the age of childhood' for true piety: and that is, that a child'& powers and capacities form almost the lovelie$t of all possible offerings in the world that can be presented to God. There is nothing fairer, sweeter, more akin to heaven, than the expaJlding faculties J)f a well trained child. An,~ must God be deprived of the flowe~ of all his works, and tbe dry and withered lea.ves alone be

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brought before him rather than the fresh and fragrant buds? If there is so much in the character of childhood to captivate our affections, and to make even the youngest child with all the watch­ing and exertions which his necessities require, almost an idol in every house, shall we say that none of these can possibly be given to God? May not God truly love what every rightly constituted mind on earth is so ready to love? May there not be a child's piety as well as a child's sin :-a child's holiness, as well as the holiness of a mature and disciplined saint?

We have perhaps in Jeremiah, and certainly in John the Baptist and Jesus, scriptural examples of children growing up from the very first in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort and tuition of the Holy Ghost. Although with the first two there were in youth, and all through life, some of the imperfections of sin, yet in them; all the seed of true piety seems to have taken root at the very earliest period of moral action; while with Jesus there was un­sullied holiness all through the prattle' of his infancy, and the increasing wisdom of his boyish years.

At a very early age David had put his trust in Jehovah. As he had studiously contemplatell the starry worlds that moved in solemn order above him while he watched his father's flocks, the eye of his faith had devoutly fastened on the great Being who had formed them all. He had learned in his youthful conflicts with the lion and the bear that there is an invisible, almighty Providence that can strengthen the weak against the strong, and probably while a shepherd·boy, he began to tune his harp under the inspira­tion of God to those lofty Psalms which have been the instruction of the church in every age. Josiah at sixteen years of age, Timothy, from how early a period we do not know, and numbers in subse­quent times at the ages of three, four, five and six years, have afforded comfortable evidences of true christian character. One of the most lovely christian ladies of my acquaintance-the wife of an honored clergyman-has often remarked that she cannot re­member the time when she did not truly love her Saviour. There is a peculiar fitness in this period of life for entering into true communion with Him whose chosen abode is with the lowly and believing.

But besides this general capability of the formation of a fixed character, and peculiarly a christian character, in very eady life, it is important for us to observe, thirdly:

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S. 'That it is P&t tmkindness to' -childrentu indulge in unbelief m· Tega.rd to their capa.city for true 'piety. -, The -hearts ef -little -ehillhen are -often saddened on aoceunt ef a' -deep sense of sin. The Hely Spirit visits and teaches 1Ileir· yeung hearts, though even their ,parents are like the cruel ostrich in the wildernes8, lt which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in the dust; and rorgetiteth that the foet may crush them, or that the wild beast may break· them: she is hardened against her young enes as theugh they were not her's." TheirsiDs maynei appear great in the eyes of partial friends; but their evil thoughts, their want ef love to God, their forgetfulness 'Of his sabbaths, their sallies ef temper, their want 'Of faith in the Lord J eeus Christ, have been brought out dis­tinctly into view by the illumination of the Hely G'host, and they are overwhelmed at the theught ef the _ awful, eternal displeasure of a holy God. N OW, is it rigkt for parents to' leave these little, tender, weeping children, labering and heavy laden as they are under an oppressive burden of guilt, and not afford them any as­surance that they may new come to the Lamb of God, and find rest to their souls? or shall they contradict the teachings of the Scriptm-es, and the Holy Ghost, and their own consciences, by telling them they are too young to be great sinners-too young to experience a true renewal of heart? Must they pass years outside of. thP- fold of Christ, riven with the pangs of repentance and dread of the wrath of God, and not even a parent's band apply to their bleeding hearts the balm of Gilead, nor a parent dare with a tree sincerity to assure them that there is· a. physician there for them, able and willing to heal them just now? Can the benevolent God be pleased to have a dear little child live on for years the wretched life of transgression and impenitence, and nobody venture with a hearty and pitying sincerity to tell him, there is a Lamb ef God that can take away all bis sin even now r Must he be told to wait for years till he can be converted, and in the mean time be gently lulled to sleep in his conscious sins? Where can any unkindness be found keener and more withering than this? I am sure all this is not in keeping with the spirit of Him who took up the little children in his arms, put bis hands on them, and blessed them. Mr. Spurgeon in one of his sermons, (vol. ii. p. 348) relates as authentie the:storyof'& dear little girl, some five or six years of age, a true lover of Jesus, who -requested -of ber mother that she might joiB the church. Th.e mother told her at first that she was

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tooi young:,: and the poor; little thing' was exceedingly ·grieved. After a while, the . mother -seemg'the evidences ola .' true' piety in her· child,' Yspoke:to her minister on the subject.' The' minister also con'Versed with the child, andiSaid to the mother,H I am 'thoroughly convinced of her' piety i ' but I cannot eonsent to her joining the church~she is too young." As the 'earnestly listening child heard from; her own pastor's lips this fearful sentence, a strange gloom pa-ssed over her young face, and the next morning when her mother went to her little bed, there she lay with a pearly tear or two, not yet -dried, on her cheeks, locked in the embrace of death­dead~ as it would seem, of grief, because prevented from obeying' one of the precious commands of her Lord. I know this anecdote is somewhat incredible, and some misapprehension may exist in re­gard to the facts: but however this particular instance may have been, . there can be no error in affirming that it is fearful unkind .. ness to ·repress and discourage the gushing piety of such a young and tender beart.

4. It is also a very perilous thing to act on any other belief tht$D that little children may be truly converted. Long before that indefinite future season, favorable for conversion, in which you propose to begin to labor with an expectation of immediate results, shall arrive, your darling child may be sleeping in death, and the green grass may be waving, and the delicate :Bowers, watered with your .. tears, may be blooming over his lowly pillow in the dust. How awful will be the responsibility, if through your unbelief, and lack of that kind of christian nurture which goes along with the hope of a very early conversion, the precious soul should not be saved! The golden period of life, most propitious to the implantings of true piety, will have been suffered to pass by on purpose, without­expecting and l"striving for his salvation, and this priceless treasure of your hea"" be launched unprepared into a miserable eternity through the mistaken sternness and caution of the parents who gave him birth •

.A.ndifchildren do not die thus early, how perfectly bewildered must they become as to the nature of true religion, and how fear­fully . obstructed must be their path to eternal life, if they are trained without any living faith on the part of their parents that they-may be truly regenerated while very young. You tell your daughter, for example, that she must be sorry for her many sins; that- she must heartily renounce them, :praying .for God's help to

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live a, better life, and ,~relying solely on the ments of our crucified Lord and Saviour for the hope of pardon and heaven. Sh~ tells you < with all. the sincerity and frankness and tenderness of her childish heart that sh:e trusts . she is sorry; that she does love Jesus; that she loves his people; that she loves his holy word; that it is her inmost purpose, by God's help, to live forever to his glory ;-and yet you will not allow to glimmer on her troubled heart one ray of hope that you, her own parents, can indulge, that she is born again. What a puzzling mYRtery then, must a seriouB, inquiring child begin to believe this being born again is, if while she has all the exercises which the Bible, and which you, her pa­rents, describe as belonging to it, she sees you, in whom she so implicitly confides, utterly incredulous even as to the possibility of her having experienced it? '\Till not Satan tempt her poor, trem­bling heart to give up the effort to become a christian in despair? Who can tell how fatally hardened an ingenuous, inquiring child may not become under such a torturing miseducation!

Look at this It ostrich nurture," as Dr. Bushnell well denomi­nates it, described in his own forcible words. (Christian Nurture, pp. 74, 78.) Such parents II indoctrinate their children soundly in respect to their need of a new heart; tell them what com"ersioll is, and how it came to pass with grown people; pray that God will arrest them when they are old enough to be converted according to the manner; drill them, meantime, into all the constraints, sepa­rated from all the hopes and liberties of religion; turning all their little misdoings and bad tempers into evidences of their need of regeneration, and assuring them that all such sins must be upon them till after they have past the change. Their nurture is a nur­ture, thus, of despair; and the bread of life itself, held before them as a fruit to be looked up,on, but not tasted, till they are old enough to have it as grown people do, finally becomes repulsive, just be­cause" (far more because, it would have been better to say,) "the:" have been so long repelled and fenced away from it. And so religion itself, pressed down upon them till they are fatally soured by its impossible claims, becomes" (more than ever, I would have said) II their fixed aversion. How plain it is that such kind of nur· ture is unnatural, and though it be not so intended, unchristian. I~ makes even the loving gospel of J esns a. most ga.lling chain upon ~lle neck' 9f.chil~ood I-this, and pothing more. For so long a tUne, and that the most ductile and hopeful, as regards all new

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implantings of good, it really proposes nothing but to have the depravated nature grow, and the plague of sin deepen its bad

infection. " Who does not see the unspeakable peril to the ;alvation of the

child in a method of education-or mis-education-so sadly unscrip­tural as this !

In promoting the spread of the gospel, then, we ought to give a careful and very hopeful attention to the religious training of young children. H Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings," for Hebrew mother,s nursed their children until they were three years old,-God has ordained strength, or prepared for himself an army, because of his enemies, that he may still the enemy and the avenger. We need to fall earnestly and cordially into this divinely proposed method of filling aU the world with God's praise. We think it a matter for devout gratitude and far-sounding report, when a senator, a general, a profound jurist, a merchant-prince, a leading mind in any department of life, is hopefully converted to Christ. But would it not have been a still greater accession to the cause of our blessed Redeemer, had he in all his earliest years manifested the regenerating grace of God, and 80 have come up to his lofty position with a11 this sacred training? And will not all the highest places of military and political and intellectual honor in the world, be occupied one day by those who are little children now? And is the conversion then of a little child an insignificant affair? Let young children then be instructed, and preached to, as if we really expect their present conversion, and are ready to be­lieve it, whenever by God's blessing it occurs. We believe that the souls of all who die in their infancy, through the atonement of Jesus are renewed and sanctified by the Holy Ghost, and taken home to heaven to swell the song of praise unto

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him It that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own b100d, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father." But why may not in­fants who live be regenerated, as well as those who die? A holy or an unholy character they will have while very young. Why not be ready to beli~ve upon proper evidence, that with proper training and God's good grace, they may have a christian, as well as an unchristian and impenitent character? Little children, if properly prayed for, baptized and trained, are the bulwark of the church; and more and more as God's people advance in knowledge and faith will the declaration-hitherto but imperfectly fulfilled-be'

14 seen to point .to the main secret of introducing the millennial tri­umphs of the church, it out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength, because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger."

The great President Edwards, who died more than a hundred years ago, gives in his Narrative of Surprising Conversions a de­tailed account of the religious experience of Phebe Bartlett, a child of four years of age, and who afterwards lived for nearly sixty years to testify to the reality of God's work of grace ac­complished at that early period. This greatest theologian of Our continent did not hesitate to publish this account before the child was six years of age-and it was immediately l·epublished, and widely circulated in Great Britain-nor deem it any impeachment of his caution and penetration and conservatism, to exhibit at length the striking evidences of her clear knowledge of divine truth. Let us not have less faith in the capacity of little children for religion, than our orthodox fathers had more than a hundred years ago.

Let more meetings for the instruction of little children be held by pastors;

"Permit them to approach, He eries, Nor ,!Corn their humble name;

For 'twas to bless such 80uls as these, The Lord of Angels came."

Let their young affections twine around their judicious, confid­ing, faithful pastor, as well as their parents. It is no misemploy­ment of the loftiest faculties God ever bestowed upon man, to be diligently and prayerfully engaged in the religious instruction of very little children j nor is there a place in which the most mature and cultivated intellect of any of my hOllored fathers and brethren in the ministry, and of any of you, my brethren and sisters ill Christ, is more honorably and wisely employed than when you have gathered around you the tender lambs of the Bock, and are care­fully teaching them concerning their Savionr.

I know the ready susceptibility of little children to religious im· pressions; and the need of careful instruction, and discrimination and deliberation, in pronouncing any child, and any older person, 1 may add, to be truly converted. "r e must not be too credulous, and mis.take the workings of sympathy and mere animal feeling, and the easy compliance of good nature, for the fruits of the Holy Spirit. N or must we be over easy to be persuaded iu regard tll

16 the appearances of regeneration in those of any age. And' yet let us remember, as it is only a charitable hope that we can entertain in regard to the reality of regeneration in anyone who appears to. be converted, so we. should be ready to indulge this charitable hope on proper grounds in regard to little children also. An.d let us not forget that this ready susceptibility of little children to re­ligious impression is one of the crowning reasons why we should direct our earnest, believing and persevering exertions towards their salvation.

Let not children .of a tender age be prohibited in unbelief fr.om. the privileges. of the church, when after suitable instruetion, they seem ready to partake of them. Let us not decide them to be unconverted because they have faults yet uncorreoted. Alas ! wha.t adult disciple could endure this cruel, unscriptural test! Let the hearts of fathers be more and more wiBely turned towards the children :-and I know not why the Holy Spirit should thus spe­cially refer to fathers, unless because fathers are peculiarly liable to forget and neglect their duty in this respect :-let even the hearts of fathers in the ministry be more and more wisely and faithfully turned towards the children, and the hearts of the chil­dren be more obediently and confidingly turned to their fathers. Mothers will not fail of their duty, if fathers perform theirs-and the vengeful enemy of God and man shall at last be stilled, and the curse of impenitence shall be known and felt no more on earth.

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FIFTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT.

In the beginning of the last missionary year we had occasion for deep regret, in the resignation of him, who for more than thirty years had presided over this Institution, and most ably and faith­fully promoted its interests.

During the year no death has occurred among the officers of this Society. One young man has fallen, Mr. J. W Cole, a mem­ber of the Bangor Seminary, who had been employed on a short mission, to good acceptance, at Somes yillage, on the Island of Mount Desert.

The annual TABULAR VIEW will now be given of the missionaries employed, and their several fields of labor. A * attached to do­nations to the Maine Missionary Society, is intended to show that those donations, though collected within the year, were not paid to the Treasurer in season to be acknowledged in his Report.

17 TABULAR VIEW

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0 ... 1=1 E ... 41 e mea. Commission. ~ 0 "'CI~ .., .... ,.j ~ 0 ~ ::-;. g"i~ 3 ... .Q O.c as CD ; ~I~ - ~-d ::sCI! ...

..0""" 011 bII :::I 0 s;: .ge ID • ...,. .:= ... e ... tIJ as .... 0 .s::s.5 bD o .! e tlJltIJ ... -~~.c -.. -0 s::c "0 tIJ d"t:l"t:l c.= OlD

IP s:: ~ .c't'."t:I o~ ........ A ~ ~i::.J:: =8ri5 8::a ~o ------ -1. ACTON.

Rev. Franois P. 'smUh, 8 ••• June 26,1861 12 10000 100 49 2 60 18 43 5~

'I. ALBANY, 1 time. 25 00100 68: 80 600 .N. WATERFORD, ! tm. 100 00

1130' no! 1 100 20 35 20 00

Rev. 6aJnue1 L Gould, •. ~rune 26, 1861 12 ::I 3. ALEXANDER. 60 20 COOPER. 7~ 20 1 25 5 00

Mr. Alvin Baker. May, 1861 4: 54 00 I 4. AMBERST nnd AURORA.

25\ Mr. George L. Roberts. May, 1861 6 50 00100 1 50 16 75

5. ANDOVER. I Rev. Wm. V. Jordan. June 26, 1861 3 38 0l25! 73 21

70 20 00 Oct. 1. 1861 9 ~4 00 I

6. AROOSTOOK Co.-5 stations. /Dol

Rev. M. R. Keep, 8. II. June 26, 1861. 12 100 00, ch!

7. BELFAST, N., ~ timo. 1140' 511 90 9 50 9 00 t:iw ANVILLE, l time.

1!2 001 '91 20

Rev. T. A. MerriU, B • •• June 26, 1861 7 Jan. 29, 1862 5 83 00

8. BINGHAM. /120 1 42i 20

1

*S 00 ANSON, Sordh. 1130

1 57 1 I 60 SOLON VILLAGE. 120 9: 50

100001 J J 1

Rev. G. W. IIathaway, s s. July SO, 1861 12 1

!

9. BROOKSVILLE, E. ! tm. I 70 "1000 " W.jtm. 1130; 55

1

65 Rev. Benjamin Dodge, 8.8.

June 26, ]8611 2;001 1 For E. Brookstlille alone, 6 For E. ~ W. B. together, Jan. 29, 1862 6 50 001 !

10. BaOWNFIELD. 100 001100! 901

Rev. Josiah G. Merrill, •. 8. June 26,1861 12 3 55 400

11. BaowNVILLB. Rev. Wm. S. Sewall. June 26, 1861 12 150 00110 88 85 8 95 9 69

12. BURLINGTON &; vioin. Rev. ~. R. Plumer, •• 8. Ma.y 18, 1861 12 150 00 80 22 1 1 9 90 1000

13 • .BUXTON, Nartla. Rev. George W. Or88ley. Juue 26, 1861 12 75 00 107 64 3 67 5 00 4:2 00

14.. CAPE ELIZA-BBTa. v. A.. F. Beard. May 25. 1861 'ii 75 00125 16 65 11 i)2 Re

2

III

Churches and Mission-aries.

-

15. DEDILUI:. Re T James Wells.

16. D.BEB ISLB-2d ch. v. Wm. A. Merrill.

1'1. DEXTBR. ST. ALBANS.

v. Daniel Sewall, Re Re v. Eben'r Bean, (for

Dexter only.)

18. DIXFIELD. MEXICO. PERU.

M r. J. P. Chamberlain, 8.B.

19. DmuuJ(. Re v. J. M. C. Beaubien,

20. EooECOHB. Re v. G. B. Richardson.

21. FORT F..uRFIELD. WASHBURN. LITTLE'l'ON. I MONTICELLO. PRBSQUB ISLE.

R ev. Elbridge Knight, B.B

18

TABULAR VIEW·

,; c .a .S :3 at .8 .. ee 8 .~ tIiII

CP

a g", ... Date or 0 tIiII

0 ~ 0 ..

Commission. g" 0 .... ..; g" C)

O.g =: CP

-5~ ] bO f ~a CP

~.~ '0 ~ Q < ----

June 26, 1861 12 125 00 100

April 1, 1861 12 150 00 100

65

June 26,1861 21 52 00

Oct. 11, 1861 8i 98 00

75.

I July 31, 1861 12 125 00

Aug. 18,1861 8 67 00 75

April, 1861 12 60 00 125

I

no 12 100 00

C • g

• III

e III •

CP ~ ~ ,Q o ..

J,o ...

B ,.~ CP

IO-aIO-a a .,Q.,Q .CI 'i'i 0 ;; "'Cl"'Cl

6 '"="'Cl -« - --54·12

50

57 4

3' no oh

34.

85 2

15

I 11

6

cb

22. FRBEDOK, l time. • Edward P. Baker.

J ••• 26. 18611

Nov. 16, 18Gl 6 25 00 601 2(; 1 1

23. FREEDOM, 80 JACKSOlf.t BaOOKs. 140

M r. E. J. Alden. July Sl, 1861 3 58 50

24. GARLAND. Re v. Peter B. Thayer. Juue 26,1861 12 150 00 125 '19

25. GauD. v. Henry Richard8on,B.B. Sept. 4, 1861 10 83 00 36 5 Re

GORHAH, Great Fall8, ~ 'ime, no

T. Luther Wiswall. June 26, 1861 9 .34: 00 cb

26. GOULDSBORO', 3 sta's. no v. David S. HilJbard, B.B. June 26,1861 2 4:2 00 120 cb

ISept. " 1861 10 IG7 00 27. GaAT.

v. J. P. Riohardson •. B. June 26 1861 12 125 00125 51. 1

Re

Re

• Paid bl friends in Gorham and Windbam.

-So CIS" CP

";;:81 c:l

.~ ..... g 1II:l 1:1

.- 7J'" ::a.s: C)

f.a:l: '0 s8 ~ : = .... CP r:IJ c Ite 1:1 ]t> II)

g"'Cl~ ,.Q _ ,!l"CS ::see ... = 0 c:l .,Qc:l II) •

.... II) III .... 0 .c: 1Il

~ l§,t:i J,o ....

o~ ~1Il

c.~ 0'''' t:1:18~ 8::a E-i~ -------

'1 U8 27 78 31 26

40.11 50 13 50

3 '18 00 4. 00

45 9 00 10 0

34 *1000

80 19 00 10 00

110 53

50 13 00 7 00

75

100 23 00 41 Sf)

60 10 00

6 150

80 (10 0010 00

It TABULAR VIEW

Churches and Mission­-aries.

28. GUILf!'OBD'l i tIme. ABBOT, 4 time. SA.NGERVILLE, 4 tm.

Rev. J. A. Perry, 8.8.

"29. HARRISON, i time. NAPLES, ! time..

Rev. Thomas L. Ellis, 8. 8.

30. HIRAJC. Mr. Ezra .H. Pike.

31. HOULTON. LINNEUS &; HODGDON.

Rev. E. G. -Carpenter, 8. 8.

82. ISLE AU HAUTE. Eev. J oahua Eaton, 8. ~.

S3. KENDUSKEAG. Mr. J. K. Lh.coln.

34. KENNEBUNKPORT, 1st church.

Rev. Morris Holman, 8. B.

~5. KITTERY.

g-o ·5 's

Date of ~ Commission. .: ..

0'£ ..a~ .... 0

~a

J uae 26, 1B61

June 26, 1861

Sept. 5, IB61

J11ne 26, 1861

4> = ~"-

12

12

24

12

June 26, 18'Gl; 12

, I !July 3D, 18Cl, 1

June 26,1861 12

3 Rev. Wm. A. Fobes, 8. <f. June 26, IB61 fU. IS611 9

36. LurINGTON. Rev. John Parsons, P. June 26,1861 12

37. LINCOLN. MA TTA W AMKEA.G. PASSADUMKEAG.

Rev. Alva.n J. Bates, P. June 26, J.S61 12

38. LoWELL. Rev. Joseph Smith, P. June 26, 1861 12

89. MAcmAsPoRT, i tm. Rev. Gilman Baoheller, P. June 26,1861 12

40. MADAWASKA. .Mr. E. N Raymond. I u1y 30, 1861 21 '41. MADISON BRIDGE.

Rev. T. G. Mitohell, 8. 8. lune 26, 1861 4i NoV'. 15,1861 7j

42. MADISON, E., .i tm. MERCBR, i time. McDONALD DIS. ~ tm.

Rev. John Forbush. !JUDO 26, 1861 3

75 17 1 125

75 18 175 00

100 68 75 11

160 00

35 00 14

l()0 20 2 100 15 1

300 00

100 00 60 21

24 00 125 53

75 00 100 65 8

35 00 75 00 100 44

1201106 125 00

85 40

11 15{) 00

75 00 100 100 1

75 00 175 43

1 no . 70 00 cb

37 00 78 00 100 52

no 4.6'()O oh

50 ~$lO 90

5 65 3 50

1 45 '1 00 600

1 1 40

11 4 401.2000 10 00

3! 8 75

(0

11100112 00 15 00

10 i T; 70

I I

l' 90

75

1 60 5 00 5 50 2 63

1 no' 19 38 19 3Q

3 50 *600

68

1

6 50 8 60

Churches and Mission­Aries.

TAB'trLAR VIEW

=-c i i

»ate of ~ Commission. .: ai

0:; .c= ~o :a <1)= ~ .....

_ 43. MADISON, E., J time. 60 12 2 2 1 5& 2 00 , SOUTH SOLON, " 4:0 30 25 Rev John Forbush. Oct. 1, 1861 9 'i500

4:4:. :MECHANIC FALLS, * t. WEST MINOT,

100 46 7 4 7 125 62

601 29 05 18 2Z aO, 12 75

Rev. Horatio Ilsley, •..•• March 1,18£1 12 100 00

4:5. MERCER, i time. 150 5~ F AlUlIl'lGTON FALLS,

i time. 150; 24 N. CHESTERVILLE, " 75 26

Rev. George W. Rogerlt. Feb. 16, 1862 5 83 08

(.G. MONlIOUTH, i time: 100 26 lI'AYETfE,4 time. 75 18

Rev. Henry S. Loring, •. :t. June 26, 1861 12 150 09

4:'1. MOUNT DESERT. 104: J. W. Cole, (Somes ViI.) July I, }SCI 4 75 'Rev. John W. Peirce,

4 stations. June 26, 1861 12 1100 00

48. NBWFIELD, Wt8t. Rev. J ODas Fisk. Rev. Calvin Chapman.

49. N'xw YIl'lEY ARD, i tm. F AlUlIl'lGTON FALLS,

4 time. N. CHESTERVILLE, "

Rev. George W. Rogers.

50. NORTHPORT, Eat. LuiCOLlITILLL

Mr. Leander S. Coan.

51. NeBWAY VILLAGE. N OBW A Y CltN'lER.

June 26, 1>861 6 April 14,1862 1

June 26,1861 Oct.. 1,. 1861

Jan. 29, 1862 i April 30,1862 !

100 61 50 00 28 00

48 00 00 00

}4, 00 14 00

50 27

DO ell

Rev. Philo B. Wilc02:, 6. 6. June 26, 1861 12

leO 58 100 52

125 00

62. ORONO. Rev. StephenL.Bowler, .... June 26, 18C1 12 175 00 150 ~6

6S. ORRINGTON. Rev.WellingtonNewell ••.•. June 26,1861 6 62. 00 100 63

64:. ODORD. Mr. Benlon M. Frink. Jul,. SO, 1861 6 100 00 26

2 125 9 ()O

2 '15 40 4 00

I 11 65 10 00 21

\I) 500

50

7 144: S 65

I J.30

8 60 4 83

9 13

'10 24 05 8 00

so 10 86

65. PA88AD111fKEAG .. Air. C. A. Conant. Jul)' SO, 1861 1 ~ 00 liB 1 2

21

TABULAlt VIEW.

Churches and Mission­ariel.

56. PAtTEN, t time. ISLAND F .A.LLS, t tIn. GOLDKN RwGB,

(Sherman.) !Rev. Wm. T. Sleeper, B. 8. June 26,1861

Oct. 15, l8G1

57. PBIPBBURG.

31'117 00 8~;2aO 00

Rev. Francis Norwood, B.8. June 26, 1861 12 t'i0 00150172'25 40

6 100 00 401

9°1 58. PORTLAJID, 4th Oh.

Mr. J. F. Brown, B. 8. Aug. 20,1861

59. P..o.WNAL. Rev. Joseph Boarciman,P. Jane 26,1861

Jan. 29, 1862

60. PlUNCETO!T.

6 6

Rev. C. L. Nichols. July 30, 1861 12

61. ROBBINSTON.

5000 1

3.0T'010U.

100 ~Ol' 121 1

I 1 1111

55

6 60 34 00

52 00

Rev. John Whitney. luly 30, 1861 Ap'. 14, 1862

4 42 DO 2 17 00!155

1

90 90

175 001 I III 12/

30 00

62. RoCKPORT. Rev. E. M. Wright. June 26, 1861 12 60 14: 02 12 00

12;;' 431 12}, 3

150 00 I .64. SANFORD.

Rev. Theodore Wells, 8.~. June 26, 18G1 12 50 00 69 1

g 28 oJ (is 2811

8, 69 001 so! 58

100 331 4 1'1

80 1SI'1 31

no ch 75 10 I 75 no

ch

65. SIDNEY, i time. Mr. Wm. Leavitt.

66. SUNDISII. Rev. Mark Gould, •• 8.

.(l7. St. ALB.tlNS, 4 time. PLYYOUTB and DIE-

lIONT, l time. PITTSFIELD,l J t' CARYEL, S 4. lme. P ALYYRA., t time.

RtW. Daniel Sewall, 8. 8. Oct. i5, 1861

63. RUlO'ORD,.i Lime. UPTON, .J time.

Rev. John Elliot, 8. B. June 26, 1861 12

J Illy 30, 1861

Jne 26,1861

8A 142 00

3 00

LQ 00

50;lli 00

35 6 25 1 00

30

70 10 63

70 ·1 0025 00

68. STRONG •• time. 120 97 INDUSTRY,.4 time. 112 50

2 3 90 13 00 20 00 60 3 08

RIW • .Jonas Bw;nham, .. B. JaB 26 1861 10 108 00

TABULAR VIEW

..CI

Ii ~ .....

~ ~ at III II

.2 .S s:i ,gCP

" -;; .1 t ~ .S ,g:l ai~ .S at III CP

S till i :I .: f :D'S )l.! Q ep

CPo! ..CIep 00 ~ S ... CP CP CP

Ohurohea and Mission- Date of 0 till ,g 0 .. ~ i~ ... 0

0 ... g B ... ~ ~ -Ill s:t

ariea. Commission. 0 g. 0 II g. ~ .... CP • iii g. 0

S~ .... 0 "C!~ ..... ,g

0:; as ep ,S"CI ~ GIl ... ,g .... ,gg CI • ..CI1=2 j ell i11 1';

01=2 -0 f CP GIl ... 0 ..cI'" ...... og :13- II ~:g 'CI Co Cl • ...... '0 C..CI s=.~

~.9-~

~~ 'CI 0

8~ 8::el Q'~

A -< <= E-I-g --- - -,--------69. SUlllfER. } I BotrTn HARTFORD. \

Rev. B. G. Willey, P. J uuo 2&, 1861 12 60 001130 97 85 21 00 26 00

'10. SWEDEN'. 170 65 1 60 IS 63 25 gO DEN'IrU.Rlt. 80 82

Rev. Amasa. LoriDg. JUDO 26,1861 ( 60 00 ! Nov~lJ 1861 8. 183 00 !

I 71. TEXPI.&

80181 Rev. Simeon Haokett. J UBO 26, 1861 12 16 00(00 15 60 14 32110 00 i

72. TOPSFIELD. i

Mr. B. F. Ma:lwell. July 30, 1861 4 59 50 I n.e. I Jan. May, '62 Ii 42 00125 2726! 2 16 12

I 'lS. TuaNER. !

Rev. S. C. Higgins. June 26,1861 3 25 00 Oct.l, IBSI- 9 57 00 87 3 90 20 25

'14. UNION,.i time. Rev. F. V. N oroross. Juae 26, 1861 12 60 00 125 53 2 70 17 57115 00

75. VASSALBODOVGR. Rev. S. B. Goodenow, •••. June 26, 1861 10 62 75 65 (8 I 1 85 10 231

'16. WELD.

::I II Rev. Stepben Titcomb. JuDe 26,1861 12 'i.5 00; 65 1 85 6 85

'1'1. WILTON'. 36 39'14 GG Rev. H. A. Lounsbury, 6.8. JUDe 26, 1861 6 75 00 75

'l8. W OOLWICR. 62 III Rev. M. L. Richardson, P. JUDO 26, 1861 2.1 15 00 100 3 .9 00 15 O()

Sept. 10, 1861 4i 40 00

79. YORK, (Scot1and.) Rev. Sam'! H. Partridge. June 26,1861 12 75 001'15 37 40

23

REMARKS.

10. Under the head of encouragements, are mentioned-1I increased attention on public worship and at prayer meetings­increased interest in the Sabbath School-increased number of families in or near the village, who by their example and contribu­tions throw their influence in favor of orthodox preaching-and the prospect of having a new house of worship in the coming autumn, principally through the influence of one man."

15. II Out of death the Lord has given us life. Seven have been taken ~rom our Sabbath School by death, and seven, as we hope, have passed (spiritually) from death unto life. Of the twelve who have united with our church during the year, t~n were from sixteen to nineteen years of age."

16. The whole amount of property for which the members of this society are taxed, is $10,000, of .which about one half is in possession of church members. Their subscriptions this year for the support of their minister, less than before on account of " the pressure of the times," amount to $300. Four members of the church are in the army.

17. The whole amount of taxable property, in the hads of the church and of paying members of the society, does not exceed $10,000. If They are about repairing their house of worship. With willing minds, toiling hands, and earnest praJ;ing hearts, they are doing what they can, looking to Cod for his divine blessing."

24. The pastor of this church is If encouraged by the general good attendance upon the word preached-by the interest mani­fested, especially by the young, in social meetings and in the Sab­bath School-by the general harmony and good feeling in church and society, and in many expressions of kindness in word and deed from those, among whom and for whom he has long labored."

26. "Diminished attendance on preaching," owing perhaps to the absence of our missionary last September, and his inability to preach, &c., five weeks in the spring from ill health. He is ac-

cUstomed to preach on the Sabbath· at three different places. U At Winter Harbor six Bouls have been hopefully converted, and some (June 21) are yet inquiring."

28. II The Sabbath School is flourishing and prosperous in all the places" which our missionary visits. It The temperance cause also continues to prosper."

35. The ancient house of worship, occupied by this ancient church (organized in 1714) II has been painted and otherwise greatly improved." There has been 'I a steady increase in the congregation and Sabbath School. The people with scarcely an exception seem perfectly united." Our missionary II has full faith that a good congregation may be gathered there." Though much has been taken from them by removals, there has been a slight increase of pecuniary ability.

44. In the spring indications were such at Mechanic Falls, as to awaken strong hopes of a general revival. tl Many were anxious, and seven persons in the congregational society express~d a chris­tian hope. But II sectarianism prevented the work, and grieved away the blessed Spirit. "The meeting-house has been repaired at an expense of about $175. A barrel of clothing has been Bent West worth about $50. II The congregation on the Sabbath has been very much improved in point of steadiness and stability." There is reason, however, for serious apprehension, that the pro­gress of improvement will be arrested by Mr. Ilsley's departure to another field of labor.

47. One missionary on this large island has had four regular p1aees for Sabb~th preaching. At each place his congregations have increased. At Seal Cove they have been recently much lar­ger; It a few hopeful conversions have occurred, and some old hopes have been revived and invigorated." At another station, II there has been more than usual interest." Sabbath Schools have been established in several districts, tt on the union plan, embrac­ing it is thought, an unusually large proportion of children and youth." Much time has been spent in visiting the sick and affiict­ed, and in attending funerals, at a distance in some instances of 12 to 20 miles. Interesting cases have occurred of persons during months of illness finding peace in believing, and dying in hope of

- eternal life. .,A number of young meD, belonging to the church and society, are in the army and navy.

25

49. ·tt In New Vineyard, the church edifice h'as been enlarged aDd thoroughly repaired, at an expense of nearly $600," raised al­most wholly among themselves. The expectation was, that Mr. Rogers would remain with them through a second year; but owing to some untoward circumstances he left N. V in February, and moved to Mercer, uniting that place by a new arrangement, with the rest of the field which he had before occupied.

50. During the few weeks spent by Mr. Coan in these two places, in one of which was "a Union house and no preacher," aDd in the other II no preacher expected of any other denomina­tion," the people were It anxious for preaching, Gospel hungry," and prospects for usefulness highly encouraging.

51. The conversions reported from these two churches collec­tively, are ten. II The village church is in an acth-e state at the present time, (June 15) especially in respect to Sabbath Schools. Sixty-five persons attended the MiBsion S. S. and prayer meeting, at a distance of 21 miles from tbe village."

52. It Our Sabbath Schools in the out-stations were never more prosperous than at the present time. Two of them have been maintained through the year, and a third was suspended but a few weeks in midwinter. In these schools we circulate this year $30 worth of Sabbath School papers; also tracts, testaments and bibles, as they are needed."

53. Mr. l' ewell's labors in Orrington ceased at the end of De­cember last. Since then they have continued their worship and S. S. upon the Sabbath, and Prof. Smith, from Bangor, has fre­quently preacbed to them half the day. Eight hundred dollars have been secured for repairing their house 'of worship-a work which they design to accomplish during the present season.

56. One means employed 'by the Spirit, in Patten especially, was the diptheria, which assumed in that place a very malignant type, and was fatal in very many instances.

63. At Rumford it is found II difficult to collect the children in Sabbath Schools, death is thinning the ranks of belie,ers, and in­temperance is doing a fearful work among us." To the little church at Upton one has been added by profession, and the general state of things is healthful and promising.

26

61. When Mr. Sewall commenced his present mlsslOn, two 'stations were includAd, Pittsfield and Palmyra, in which there was no congo church, though in the latter place the~e were seven congo church members; and there he has been favorably received, and the attendance on his preaching much increased. A t Pittsfield, the prospect of doing good was not very encouraging, and in Feb­ruary this part of his field was exchanged for Carmel. The gen­eral aspect of this mission is encouraging-particularly at St . .Albans.

68. It is expected that Mr. Burnham, after September next, will confine his labors to Strong-with lery fair prospects of usefulness.

69. Increased attention to infant baptism in this church. Kine children have received the seal of the covenant in this precious ordinance during the past year.-" A hard field in many respects, but one that promises fruit from earnest, patient, perseve~ng cul­tivation.' ,

10. II Four of our young men (from Sweden) are in the army, two of whom are church members." During the past seven months Mr. Loring's labors II have been principally confined to Sweden."

'14. II The two recent converts are ladies at the head of fami­lies, and will exert a good influence, one of them from a U niversa­list family had never attended our meeting until within two years. She was induced to go by her little girl who had become interested in the Sabbath School. Old prejudices are evidently giving way, our meetings are well attended, the people are very attenti,e to the preached Word, there are many inquirers, and we are looking (June 10~ for large displays of grace among us."

27

SUM~IARY.

The whole number of missionaries the past year has been eighty; of whom sixty four were ordained ministers (including two who had received ordination during the year at Princeton and Dexter,) and thirteen were students, engaged in seasons of vacation, from the Seminaries in Bangor and X ew York. Fifty-five have been employed through the year, twelve for six months and upwards, and eight for a shorter period.

The fields of labor have been seventy-nine, comprising ninety­four congregational churches, and twenty-one places where are no such churches. Thirty-two stations have been supplied the whole time, seventeen three-fourths, twenty-one half, twenty-five one-­fourth, and eighteen less than one-fourth.

The additions to the churches have been one hundred and eighty-two by profession, sixty by letter, in all two hundred and forty-two. The whole number of church members reported is four thousand four hundred and seventy-four-of whom more than nine hundred are non-resident. The number of hopeful conversions has been two hundred and forty-eight-the year preceding it was only fifty-one. The average congregations have consisted of more than ten thousand, and more than six thousand have been gathered into Sabbath Schools and Bible Classes, composed in many instan­ces of persons belonging in part to other denominations. Branch Sabbath Schools are conducted in several places by members of churches, in addition to those that are held in houses of worship at the centre. The amount contributed to the Maine Missionary Society from the churches and congregations assisted by it, has been $942.62; to other benevolent objects (not including donations of various kinds to the army,) $573.60, in all $1516.22-being 18 per cent. of what they have received from this Society. Houses of worship have been repaired at Dexter, Kittery, Mechanic Falls., New Vineyard and Tremont. .A. new church has been built at Monson, and one is in progress at Brownfield.

28

NEW FIELDS.

Ten weeks of missi<mary labor were spent the last fall in a por­tion of the Madawaska territory by Mr. E. N. Raymond, a student at Bangor, who was himself from tha.t region, a converted Roman­ist, who preached, conversed and distributed bibles and tracts in the French language, and found many of the people disposed kindly to receive him and to listen attentively to his instructions. Some individuals appeared intelligently and cordially to receive the Protestant faith. Could certain families inclined to a correct be­lief, in that territory, and others of a similar character elB~where, be gathered together in one settlement, and furnished with sound instuction, it is believed by our missionary, that with a Divine blessing much good would be effected.

In Topsfield, Washington county, there has been but little of congregational preaching in former years. Six Sabbaths were spent there by a missionary of this Society in the autumn of 1861 ; and during the last missionary year eighteen Sabbaths. The re­sults thus far have been sixteen cases of hopeful conversion, and the organization of a church in November last of twelve members, to which fifteen have since been added. When without preach­ing they have their social religious meetings on the Sabbath, and on one or two evenings every week.

Under date of May 21, the Rev. A. R. Plumer, & mISSIOnary of this Society at Burlington, makes the following statement:­"There has been preaching a quarter of the time at the. Great Falls, eight miles from here, where are about sixty souls. I learned on my first visit, that there was not among them a single professor of religion. This gave me at once a deep interest in their spirit­ual welfare, and I resolved to spare no pains to bring the truth before them in every possible form. A Sabbath School was soon organized, and a hundred and thirty books procured for them. I introduced the Child's Paper, and soon after the American .Mes­senger, at their own request. At almost every visit I have distrib­uted tracts, which have been seized and read with avidity. These instrumentalities, by the blessing of God, have not been employed in vain. The truth seems to be working, like leaven, through the whole community. Already eight persons have been hopefully eonverted,. and a deep seriousness pervades the minds of all. The conversions thus far have been comined to adults; but we are en-

coUtaged to. hope, that the young also will 'be made the" snbjecteJ of renewing. grace. In the Sabbath SChoDI there is a deep' interest "in the study Df the Bible. The superintendent, who. was a bitter op'" poser Df the truth two mDnths ago, is now a dceided christian, and does not hesitate Dn all occasions to. testify his love fDr the SaviDr.

REVIVALS.

Our missionary fielde have not beeu so extensively and copiDusly 'blessed by showers of grace, as in some former years. Reviving and converting influences however, have been imparted, such as should call forth many thanksgivings to GDd. In the three places sup-" plied by the Rev. W, T. Sleeper, Df Patten, it is believed that frDm seventy-five to. Dne hundred BDUls have passed from death unto. life, !lome of whDm will CDnnect themselves with othm churches. The churches under his pastDral care have been increased in their mem-" bership, during the year, from 15 to. 58, from 12 to 25, and frDm 30 to 45. Many scenes of thrilling interest, connected with the gracious visitation Dfthe Spirit in Patten, have already been delin­eated in our religious journals.-H During the past spring," writes­the Rev. E. G. Carpenter on the 9th inst., II the churches in HDul ... ton and Linneus under my care, have enjoyed a preCiOl.lS seaSDn of reviving. In its influence upon the men of the world the wDrk has been limited in its present results, there being only SDme twelve cDnversiDns in both places. But in the restoration of wan .. derers from Christ's fold, in the increased faith and renewed cDnfi­dence Df chri-stians, in the awakening and transfDrming power Df the Gospel as seen by all Dbservers, and in the gDDd impression left upon the public mind, the work has an importance, which cannot be estimated by the number of cDnversions now reported, nDr by the effects which are now appareRt to human view."-The church at Temple in its poverty and feebleness has been greatly enco1:lraged by an accession of a large proportion of It the most intelligent and prDmising youth in the tDwn."-At Kennebunktport (first par­ish,) after long continued darkness and discDuragement, times of refreshing have come, such as had not been witnessed fDr many years.-In RockpDrt, It from ten to" fifteen may be reckDned," in the CongregatiDnal society, It as having met with a saving shange.17

It Amid much that is very discouraging, we feel," writes the pas­tD,r, It that we have great reason fDr thankfulness."-Th:e church in Phipsburgh, olganized in 1'165, and blessed for fifty years with

:the ministry of Rev. Ezekiel Emerson, who continued its pastor until his death in 1815, has found it neceS884"Y during the past year, for the first time, to solicit missionary aid. Its pastor reports 40 hopeful conversions, 'Of per~ons II residing chiefly at the centre, where the inHuence has been very propitious."-Other missionary fields where the God of Zion has been as the dew unto Isr~el, are Dedham, Gouldsborough, Norway, and Mecha.nic Falls.

THE TREASURY.

The balance in the treasury June 22, 1861, was $388:63. The receipts for the twelve succeeding months have been, (including $1514:.17 of borrowed money) $12,937.95, making the resources of the year $13,326.58. The expenditures of the year, (including $2397.15 paid in principal and interest on loans) have been $12,469.75, leaving a balance on hand of $856.83. There are now due for servrees already performed, upwards of $4:000; and our liabilities for the future, in consequence of grants already made, do not fall short of $1500. The whole cash income of the past year, exclusive of loans, exceeds that of the year preceding by $1163.92. This gratitying result is owing chiefly to legacies from the estates of Col. Joshua B. Osgood of this city, and of Mrs. Elizabeth Sewall, widow of the late Gen. Henry Sewall of Augusta. From the source last mentioned we have received, after deducting what was due in principal and interest upon a note given to Mrs. Sewall for a loan in January, 1858,'* $1329.50. The avails of Col. Osgood's legacy have been $160; of which $510 are ac­knowledged in the Treasurer's Report as It State of Maine scrip," -and $250 are included in Permanent Funds-the Treasurer having found upon careful investigation, that there was· that amount of indebtedness, which is now cancelled.

According to an estimate made in connection with the anniver­saries recently held in New York, the aggregate amount received during the year ending in May last, by eleven of the principal benevolent Hocieties, was less than that of the year preceding by about one-sixth of the whole. That no greater loss was sustained during a year of such vast expenditure for other o~ects, and of such embarrassment and sacrifice in the monetary concerns of the

-This 10m was acknowledged in the Treasurer's Report of June, 1868, but hns been omittea ·since in the annual exhibit of the debts of the Society, in consequence -of the understanding that the payment of it would not be called for.

81

country, is a fact decisively evincing the strong hold, which the great enterprizes of christian benevolence have upon the conscien· ces and heart~ of our people. The amount paid into the treasury of this Society during the past year by living donors, has been Ie sa than that of the year preceding, by $656.86-a little less than one­thirteenth of the whole. Adding to the donations received by the Treasurer of this Society, those which have been forwarded from Maine to the National Institution, we have a total of $8,124.62 contributed in the State for domestic missions. In consequence of an urgent demand for the relief of the American Board, very heavily laden with debt, the amount contributed by our churches for Foreign Missions, has been unusual1y large, and the ad_vancein that directio~ may have more than equalled the deficiency in this. Several valuable donations have been made to our own missiona­ries, and two at least to missionaries in the WeISt, of boxes of clothing, bedding, &c., by ladies in the State.

The cause of christian missions, as carried forward in obedience to the risen Saviour.'s command, whether in one part of our country or in another, in our own land or in foreJgn lands, is essentially one. ",T e do not regret that several thousands have been contrib­uted among us for sending the Gospel to the heathen, and several hundreds for planting and sustaining its institutions in the 'Vestern States and Territories. But let it not be forgotten that a great missionary work is yet to be done in Maine, by the people of Maine. ~Iore than one hundred of our congregational churches are still in need of charitable aid; and from many of nearly three hundred out of "more than five hundred cities, towns and planta­tions, whose schools draw a portion of their support from State funds," where are no congregational churches, comes the earnest cry-the cry of their necessities, if not of their desires-of thou­sands and tens of thousands of souls famishing in ignorance, per­ishing in sin, for the bread life, for the glad tidings of salvation.

THE AMERIC . .:\.~ HOME MISSIOXARY SOCIETY has been pursuing its beneficent career with unabated zeal, and notwithstanding some diminution of its resources, and many pe­culiar difficulties and trials, more especially in the ",Vest, with signal success. Its receipts during the year ending the first of ApriIl were $163,852; its expenditures $158,336. Its laborers in 21 States and Territories were 862, supplying in whole or in part, 1668 missionary stations. Twenty-eight new churches have been

8.2

organized, and thirty-four ha.ve become self..sustaining. Forty churches report revivals ,of religion. Additions to ,the cp.urches have been 4001, and hopeful conversions, 1528.

THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY.

In common with other loyal States of the Union, Maine has shared in the evil influences of that disastr<;)u8 strife, by which the nation has been convulsed. The minds and hearts of our citizens, '&hsorbed by other concerns, have been drawn off from the higher interests of the soul and of the kingdom of Ohrist. The means, necessary for sustaining and extending the institutions of religion, have been lessened, and large drafts have been made upon all avail· able funds, for meeting other demands, that could nbt be e"aded. Our churches have been weakened by the absence of many noble young men, who at the call of their country, and as they have verily believed, in obedience to the will of God, have gone forth to scenes of peril and suffering, thus bereaving of their services pas­tor and flock, and adding new weight to burdens already in maIlY instances very grievous to be borne. It beco·mes us, however, to rejoice in the exhibiti~ns thus made, not only of whole-souled pa­triotism, and heroic daring, but of high moral principle, chrit5tian self-sacrifice, and of that faith in God, which is produced and nur­tured by the cross, the Bible, and the mercy seat. Beyond all question the mighty uprising of twenty millions of the nation-the sublime spectacle of wealth poured out like water, armies and mu­nitions of war gathered as with lightning speed, parents giving up their sons, wives their \husbands, and six hundred thousand men themselves, to all the privations and hardships, exposures and dis­tresses of the camp and the battlefield-in support of government and law against those, who by resisting the power have resisted the ordinance of God-must be attributed in no small measure to the teachings of Scripture; to the influence of the Gospel. If the leaders and the masses of our rebellious countrymen had ""een sub­jected in early and mature life to the control of the truth as it is in Jesus, such appalling demonstrations of falsehood and treachery, such fearful deve]opments "f all hateful and malignant passions.. would not have been witnessed, nor would our country have been 'Visited with all the diversified and direful calamities of civil war.

Trusting in the God of our fathers, in whose Name we have Bet up our banners, we confidently believe he will give us the victory

33

in his own good time, against those who without cause have risen up against us; and will open the way, more widely and effectually than before, for the Gospel of His Son-the pure Gospel-the whole Gospel-to. pervade and bless the land. Blessed be His Name, in wrath he has remembered mercy. Amidst all the tumult of the times-the distress of nations with perplexity-the sea. and the waves roaring, and men's hearts failing them for fear and look­ing after those things that are coming upon the earth.-the still small voice of the Spirit, beyond what, in the weakness of our faith, we had ventured to anticipate, has been heard. By His gra­cious aid, fervent prevalent prayer has been offered, and heav­enly dews and showers have descended. It is not now the time for discouragement, sloth, or covetousness. Our watchword must pe, onward, 'Onward, with Christ as our Leader, to greater achieve­ments, to new conquests, to more glorious triumphs. The Lord will be with UB, while we are with Him. Ifwe seek Him, He will be found of lIS; and while as his servants we a.rise and build, the God of heaven, He will prosper us.

ANNUA.L ~IEETING.

The fifty-fifth annual meeting of the Maine :Missionary Society was held with the High-street Church in Portland, June 25th, 1862. A.fter the usual introductory services by the President, a sermon was delivered by Rev. John O. Fiske. The Reports of the Treas­urer and of the Trustees by the Secretary, were read and accepted.

The following resolution was adopted, offered by Rev. J. O. Fiske, Ifnd seconded by Rev. B. Tappan:

RESOLVED, That the unanimous and hearty thanks of the Socicty be presented to its late President, the Rev. Dr. DWIGHT, for his faithful and highly valued services for the long period of twenty-two years. His energy in the dispatch of business, the regularity with which be has attended the meetings of the Society and of its Board of Trustees, often at much personal sacrifice, the impartiality with which he has presided over our deliberations, the deep interest which he has always manifested in our welfare, and the steadfast zeal with which he ha.s p~omotcd it, have impressed I\l8 with a.la.sting sense of our obligations to him.

34

The following topics :-To the poor the Gospel is preached­Help those who help themselves, for they deserve our help-Help those who do not help themselves, for they need our help­The work must be done and done quickly-were discussed in brief, and earnest addresses by Rev. Messrs. H. Craig, D. Sewall, P B. Thayer, J. K. Mason, and Dr. Palmer of Albany, N. York . .A. contribution was taken up, and the public exercises of the occa.­sion were closed with prayer and benediction by Rev. Dr. Dwight.

.A t the meeting for business Dr. Dwight was appointed to req nest a copy of Mr. Fiske's sermon for the press.

The following persons were chosen' officers of the Society for the year ensuing:

PRESIDENT :

REV. GEORGE E. ADAMS.

VICE PRESIDENT:

HON. GEORGE F. PATTEN.

COR. AND. REC. SECRETARY:

REV. BENJAMIN TAPPAN.

TREASURER :

JOHN CHUTE, ESQ.

REv. DB. ADAMS, ex officio. REv. BE...~JAMIN TAPPAN. REv. ENOCn POND. REv. DAVID SHEPLEY. REv. STEPHEN T~TON. Du. SAMUEL ADAMS.

WILLIAM D. LITrLE, EsQ.

TRUSTEES :

REv. SETH H. KEELER. REv. URIAH BALKA.l1. REv. JOHN O. FISKE. EBEN STEELE. EsQ. Du. J. S. WHEELWRIGHT.

AUDITORS :

WILLIAM C. MITCHELL, ESQ.

The next annual meeting will be with the Second Church III

Biddeford, on the fourth Wednesday of June, 1863.

• PREACHERS:

REv. RBomiSOB HARRIS, Firlt. REv. EDW. W. GILMAN, Second.

35

TREASURER'S REPORT.

DR. The Maine .Missionary Society in account with John Ohute, Treasurer.

LOANS PAID:

To amount of note paid at Casco Bank, July 27, 1861, "" "Dec. 13, 1861,

Feb. 14, 1862, " on" in part " June 14, 1862,

" to Mrs. Elizabeth Sewall, late of Augusta, dated July 21, '58, payable on demand with interest, paid July 27 1861,

" to Treasurer of Congo Church Building Fund, in part, paid Feb. 4, 1862,

bTEREST PAID ON LOAN:

To amount of interest on note to :\irs. Eliza. Sewall, late of Augusta, ($500) for 3~ yrs.,

paid July 27, 1861, on note to Treasurer of Con. Church

Building Fund-in part, paid Feb. 4, 1862,

paid on all other loans,

MISCELLANEOUS PAYMENTS:

To amount paid Missionaries on Trustees' orders, " " "Dr. Tappan, one year's salary,

do. for travelling expenses, " Mrs. N. S. Bourne, for income of legacy of

late Miss Sewall of Kennebunk, " Stevens & Sayward, of Augusta, for printing

and binding 2000 copies of Annual Sermon and Reports,

" for repairs on House in Portland, " for Stationery and postages,

repaid RufuB A. Fogg, Ad.m'r of estate of late James ~l'Lellan of Gorham, an error in last settlement,

" " Commissions on receipts, Balance in Treasury,

600 00 100 00 40000 400 00

500 00

200 00 ---- $2,200 00

105 50

26 50 65 15

8,551 57 750 00 116 00

197 15

8,551 57

866 00

194 80

128 00 2 72

18 58

10 00 300 93 856 83

$13,326 58

The Mai~ Missionary Society in account with John Ohute, Treasurer, CR.

By balance of account as settled June 22, 1861, INCOME OF PERMAlI~'T Fu~i'DS :

By amount of dividends on Bank stock, "" on Manufacturing Co. stock, " "on Railroad stock,

" interest on City of Portland loan, " on State of Maine 101m,

on And. Imd Kennebec Ra.ilroad bond, " on notes receivable,

462 05 6000 18 00 60 00 18 58 30 00 49 50

$388 63

698 13

36 The Me. Hu. Society in (Jccov,ftt with John Olrate, Treasu.rer, (Con.) Cll.

MmOBLLANEOU8 RECEIPTs:

By amount received for oertificate of State of Maine scrip, sold a.t 2 pro ct. adva.nce, .Feb. 18, '62,

of Dr. Tappan, for preaching, " for rent of House, devised by l\Iiss Salter,

LEGACIES :

610 00 39 00 61 24

Bv amount received of Executor of late Mrs. Elizabeth Sewall, • of Augusta, 1 ~985 00

" of Ex'r ot late Mrs. Seeldon, POl"tland, 70 00 " " of Adm'r of estate of James l\I'Lellan,

late ot Gorha.m-balanoe, 42 68

LOANS:

By amount borrowed of Casco Bank, Aug. 19, 1861, 500 00 " "" "Feb. 12, 1862, 900 00

of Treas. of Cong. Building Ftmd for Maine, Mareh 1, 1862, 114 17

600- 24

2,047 68

1,614 Ii

By amonnt received from Collections, Donations, Annuities, Life Memberships, &0., 8,077 73

$13,326 58 Portland, June 2, 1862.

Errors excepted. JOHN CHUTE, Trecuurer.

Portland, June 2d, 1862. We have examined the account of which the foregoing is nn abstract, nnd find the same oorreetly oo.st and properly vouched-with a bal­ance of eight hundred fifty"'lri.% 83-100 dolla.rs in the hands of the Treasurer, as herein stated. 'Wl\1. C. MITHCELL, l./1 .. ..1.t

W. D. UTTLE, SLfU.l ors.

Statemement of the Permament Funds of the Me. Mis.

26 shares of Canal Bank Stock, cost 20 shares Casco Bank Stock, . . 15 shares Manufu.cturers & Traders' Bank Stock, 9 shares State Bank Stock, Boston, . 8 shares P. S. & Portsmouth Railroad Stock, 1 share At. & St. Lawrence Railroad Stock, . {) shares Lewiston Falls Manufacturing Company Stock, 1 certif. of City of Portland Scrip, 1 bond of And. & .Kennebec Ra.i1road-valued at

Notes receivable, . Lands in Aroostook County,

Society, June 21, 1862.

$2,408 00 2,000 00

761 00 54000 300 00 100 00 50000

1,00000 750 00 860 00 300 00

$9,49900 The present indebtedness of the Society is tor amoUllt borrowed of-

Casco Bank, $600 00 An individual, . • 460 00 Congregational Building Fund, 640 00

61,690 00

DON'ATIONS From. June 22, 1861, to June 23, 1862 ..

AROOSTOOK COImmENCE. FILu."KLIN CONFERENCE. Burlington-CoIl. 7, don. 3, $10 00 Chestenille-Ann. 2, don. 2, $4 00 Linco1n-Coll., 5 00 Farinington-Coll. 28.05, F. M. S~ Mo.ttawo.mkeag-Coll., 2 63 40, L. M. 58, ann. 2, don. 13, 141 06

--- Industry-CoIl. 3.08, dOn. ], 4 08 $17 63 Strong-CoIl. 6, F. M. S. 7, 13 00

CmmERLAliD CONP'ERENOE. Temple-CoIl. 7, F. M. S., 7.32, 14 32

A b CoIl 6385 L M 68 Weld-CoIl. 3, F. M. S. 3.85, 6 86-u urn- do~. 1: ' '.' '112 85 Wllton~Coll. 23.13, F.M.S. 13.26, 36 39

W.-Coll.17.29, L.M.10, 27 29 Franklin Conference, 18 47 Brunswick-Coll. 71.06, don. 13, $238 16

ann. 4, 88 05 Cape Elizabeth-Coll., 11 62 lIANOOCll: CONFERENcE. Cumberland-ColI. 9.65, Bab. Sch. Amherst and Aurora-Coll. 5.75,

9.97, 19 62 F. M. S. 11, 16 75 Falmouth, 1st-CoIl. 7.25, L.M. 10, 17 25 Bluehill-Coll., 24: 19 Freeport, Ist-Coll. 18.03, F. Ct. Bucksport-CoIl 62.50, mono con.

S.20.22. 33 25 75, 137 60 Gorham-Col 6350, F. M. S. 60, Castine-Coll. 43, mon.con. 14.2-3, 57 23

don. 10, ann. 2, 135 50 Deer Isle, 1st-Refunded 7, don. 2, 9 00 Gray-Coll. 20, 40, 60 00 Ellsworth-Coll. 43, L. M. 16, H1U'J>swell-Coll., 6 70 don. 13, Lewiston-Don., 25 00 Trenton-Don. Mechanic Falls-Coll.9.05,L.~L2O. 29 05 Sedgwick-Do~., Minot-ColI. 666, L. M 10, an. 4, 20 66 Hancock Conference,

" West-Coll, 12.25, don .. 60, 12 75

7100 500 100

1400

New Gloucester-CoIL 40, F. M. S. $334 67 20, L. M. 10, 70 00 KID.'NEBEC CONFEREXCE.

Portland, 2d par.-CoIll06, F. M. S. 72, don. 104.50, L. Angnsta

C -Co~. 190. ~5, L. M. 50,

M. 65, 347 60 M. . 86.60, don. u3, 380 40 " 3d par.- CoIl. 146.08, Bent?n-Don., 2 00

F. M. S. 91, don. 56, ~3 08 CaMmer-CoIl. 23.90, don. 5, 28 9() High St.-Coll 400 d.3 403 00 Hallowell-CoIl. 43, L. M. 20, M.

" State St.-CoU:, ' , 129 00 C. i2.18, F. M. S. 20, ann. 2, St. LawrenceSt.-Coll., 13 25 don. 30, 187 13 Union Missionary Soc., 120 00 ~s-Don., ! 00 Unknown, 3 00 Litchfield-Coll.. I 57

Raymond-CoIL 8 00 Monmouth-Coll. 5, L. M. 6, 10 00 Saccara.ppa-Do~ 9 00 Richmond-F. Cent. S., 20, L.M. 5, 25 00 Scarborough-Coll. 20, don. 6, 26 00 Sidney-Coll. 4.25, don. 2, 6 25 Standish-CoIl. 8 00 Vassalborongh-Coll. 4.23, don. 6, 10 28 Westbrook-Coll. 16 60 Winslow-Coll., 21 25 Yarmouth, 1st Pn.r.-two years' W"mthrop-Coll. 10.78, L. M. 20, z::

contributions-CoIL 97.61, F. M. F. M. S. 14.86, don. 4, 49 u9 S. 20, L. M. 67, don. 51.68; 226 29 Kennebec Conference, 14 30

Yarmouth, Central-Col 8, L. M., 75,

Cumberland 88.20,

83 00 $743 62 Conferen0e-81.92, LINCOL1~ CoNFEBDi'UE.

66 12 Aina-Don. 2, ann. 2, 400 Bath, Winter St.-CoIl. 37, L. M.

$2,420 88 10, F.M.S. 28, &nn. 4, don. 815, 894 00

86 LINCOLN Co!l1'BllBROB, (0011,.) PIsOATA<Wl8 CONFEBBNOE.

Ba.th, Central-ColI. 89.85, L. :M. Blanchard-CoIl., 60, F. M. S. 84, ann. 8, don. Brownville-Coll. 4.60, F. M. S. 167. $308 85 4.35,

Boothbay, !St.-ColI., 10 00 Dexter-ColI., Bristol-Don., 2 00 Foxoroft and Dover-L. M. f)9. Edgecomb-CoIl., 19 00 don. 18, Ne~astle, 2d-Coll., .46 00 Garland-Ooll, Phipsburg-Coll., 6 60 Milo-Don., Rockland-ColI. 22.09, don .. 60, 22 69 Monson-Coli. 11.11, L. M. 45, Thomaston-Coll., 34 00 Sangerville-Coll.,

9 00

8 95 4 00

82 00 23 00

80 0611 3 50

Topsham-CoIl, 20 93 Union-Coll., 17 67 $187 36

92 51 2 00 Anson, North-Don.,

" South-CoIl. 2.50, F. M. S.

Waldoborougb, 1st-Coll. 14.51, F. M. S. 18, don. and ann. 60,

8 00 Waldoborough, 2d-Coll. Warren-Coll. 9.44. benev. soc.

24.70, Whitefield-L. M., Wiscasset-Coll.,

34 14 8.50, 11 00 20 00 Bloomfield and ..skowhegan-Coll., 12 50 22 00 Fairfield-Don.. 5 00

___ I Madison-Coll., 6 50 $1,055 69 "E~Coll., 2 00

OXFORD CoNFERBNOE. M~r-Coll. 4, 5, 9 00 And -Co1l15 5 20 00 Norndgewock-Coll. 54.47,L.M. 5, 5g 47 Beth~:r 1st-ColI.' 20, F. Cent. St. Albans-Coll. 5.63, ann. 5,

Soc. 15, 86 00 don. 5, 15 63

" 2d-Coll, 5, 10. 15 00 Dixfield-Coll. 4, L. M. 5, 9 00 Gilead-Coll, 10 00 Norway, lst-Coll. 4.88, 4 83 UNION CONFEltENOE.

., 2<1-Ooll 5.50, don. 8.10, 8 60 Albany-Coll., Oxford-Don., 10 86 Bridgton-Coll., Paris, South-Coll24.12, L.M. 10, 34 12 Brownfield-CoIl., Rumford-Coll., 10 00 Fryeburg-L. M. 80.60, coIl 9, Sumner-Coll 17, don. 4, 21 00 Harrison-Coll, Turner-Coll., 20 25 Lovell-ColI., Oxford Conference-9, 10, 22.89, 41 39 Naples-Coll.,

___ I Otisfield-Coll., $240 05 Sweden-ColI. 8.68, L. M. 5,

PENOBSCOT CoNFERENCE. Waterford-llon.,

Ban 1 t-Coll 198 42 S S ~'North-Coll. 4.85,

gar, 8 • ,'. • don. 16, 58.17, L. M. 5. 256 59 Union Conference

" Bam. St.-ColI. 108.50, , S. S. 20, L. M. 80, don. 18, 171 50

Cent. Ch.-Coll 456.26, W Co S. S. 25, 481 26 ALDO 1U'BBBNOE.

$124 10

600 9 51 2 50

89 60 700

19 38 6 00 5 00

13 63 10 00

20 35 13 00

$151 97

47 00 Brewer-CoIl 13.24, L. M. 5, Belfast-CoIl. 80. 17, don. 1, 19 24 "North-CoIl 4.50, mono

"Vi1J.n.ge-Coll, 12 00 con. 5, 9 50 Dedham-Call., 27 78 Camden-Colle 10.01, F. M. S. Hampdcn-Coll., 14 00 20.86, 80 87 Holden-Don., 5 00 Freedom-Coll. 8, don. 5, 13 00 Kenduskeag-Coll, ] 2 00 Knox-L. M., 5 00 Oldtown--CoU., • 11 85 Rockport-Call., 14 02 Orono-Coll, 9 13 Searsport-Cou., 68 00 OrriDgton-Coll. 19.05, L. M. 5, 24 05 Unity-Don., 2 00 Veazie-Coll., 8 00 Winterport-ColI., 12 22 Penobscot Conference, 60 00 Waldo Conference, 8 00 -

$1,101 it~ $209 61

39

W.ASHINGTON CoNFERENCE. OTHER STATES. Co.la.is-CoIL, 60 00 Andover, Mass.-B. P. Hosmer, 1 00 Cooper-Coll., 6 00 AuburndaJe-J. S. Abbott, Esq., 10 00 DennYsville-Mon. con., 60 00 Boston- A. Kingman, Mrs. A. Eastport-Mon. cou., 25 00 Lawrence, Mrs. H. K. Tha.tcher, East }fa,chiaa-Coll. 22, 16, .37 00 $10 each, 30 00 Machias-ColI. 7.96, F.M.S. 46.06, 54 001 Cambridge-A friend, 2 00 :Ma.chiasport-Coll., 6 00

1

Charlestown-Deacon Henry Hill, 5 00 Milltown-Refunded, 6 00 NeWburyport-Des. Wm. ThUl'Ston Pembroke-CoD., 11 00 and wife, 4 00 Princeton-Mon. con., 20 001 Pittsfield-"A daughter of Ma.ine," 4 12 Washington Conference, 30 00 Worcester-Dr. Sweetser, 20 00 I A lover of Maine Miss. Society in

$294 00 N. H., 6 00 YORK CoNFERENCE. Northampton. N. H.,-Mrs. Cobb, 6 00

A CoIL 18 43 New York-B. T. Rogers, 1 00 J~-Coll.' 16.82, 28, 44 32 P~~elphia-A true daughter of Biddeford,2d-Coll., 35 94 arne, 4 00 Buxton, North-Coll., 6 00 MilEsqwaukie, Wis.-William Weston, Cornish-Coll., 7 00 ., 5 00

Elliot-Cou., 8 001 Kennebunk-Don., 116 50 $96 12 Kennebunkport,lst-ColI. 28.20,

don. 9.60, 37 70 I Kennebunkport, 2d-Co11. 17.35, I

L. M. 50, don. 20, 87 35 From donors.unknown, 24 00 Lebanon-ColI., 35 75 Annual meeting, 100 34 Limerick-CoU. 12.10, L. M. 10, 22 101 . Lyman-CoU., 9 00 Amount of donatIons as above, 8,077 73 Baeo-ColI. 33.69, F. M. S. 20, I .

L.M. 10. don. 10, 7369 Sanford-Coll. 12, don. 103, 115 00 I Wells, lst-Coll. 25, ann. leg 6, 31 001 Legacies,-including Col. Os-

" 2d-Coll. 10, don. 26, 85 00 good's of $760, and Mrs. Sew-York, 1st-ColI. 42, L. M. 5, 47 00 all's, minus principal and in-York Conference, 10 00, terest of loan, 1,329.60, 2,202 18

$788 6s1 $10,279 91

LIFE MEMBERS Recognized sinoe the Last ,An.n.ual ;Publioation.

MAINE.

Allen, Mrs. Elizabeth, .Alfred. Stearns, Mrs. Louisa. P., HaJ.lowell. Shaw, Aka. Elizabeth, do Stiokney, Mrs. Caroline E., do Carleton, H01'&OO, Alna. Page, Ge<,rge B., Esq., Houlwn. Kent, Mrs. Noah B., Augusta. Jeffords, Miss Lydia. W., Kennebunkport. Potter, .Miss Mary B., do .. Smith, ~ Mary Ann, do Potter, .Miss ~nfl, A." do Moore, Dennis, Lovell. ~ James B., Esq., Bangor. Allen, Miss Eliza. Ann, Machias. Ga.rnsey~ Fra.nk..6.., do Inglee, Miss '&xll.nna P., do Johnson, Rev. Edwin, do Foxcroft, Miss Abbie 8., New Gloucester. Johnson, Mrs. Sarah K., do Morgan, Mrs. Sarah, do She,pa.rd, Miss Anna, do Ross. Rev. J. A., do Shepard, Thomas, do Webster, Elijah, . Orono. Shepard, Wm. Francis, do Waters, Yrs. Lizzie. D., Orrington. Shepard, Charles Lord, do Butman, Clarendon, Plymouth. Beard, Rev. Augustus F., Bath. Cho.se, Mrs. G. M., Portland. Kimball, Dea Otis, do La.rrabee, M.iss H. M., do Richardson, Mrs. Sarah, do Leavitt, Mrs. Abby C., do Kimball, Mrs. Lucia. T., Bethel. Mitchell, William W., do Skinner, Mrs. Mary S., Brewer. Souther, Miss Mary, do Tyler, Miss Marie G., Brownfield. Storer, Horu.ce P., do Whittlesey, Miss Mary H.. Brunswick. Boardman, Mrs.:Mima A., Pownal. Gilkey, Mrs. Angelica, Ca.mden. Peabody, Mrs. Mary W., Princeton. Morrill, Benjamin, Cumberland. Hagar, Miss .Mary L., Richmond. Sweetser, Mrs. Mary Jane, do Smith, Rev. William A., Rockland. Brown, Miss Susan A., Dover. Gordon, Mrs. M.iriam H., Saeo. Darling, Mrs. Ellen, do Emery, Mrs. Salter, Su.nford. Osgood, Miss Abby L., do Emery. Mrs. Samuel B., do Goodwin, Mrs. Sarah J. L, Foxcroft. Tenney, Miss M. Abby, St. Albans. Mayo, Mrs. Joanna B., do Libby, Mrs. Sally at Scarborough. Pote. Miss A.lice R., Falmouth. Eastman, Deacon Isaac, Sweden. Ellis, Jon&. Boott, Farmington. Jameson, Samuel, Topsham. Fairbanks, Joseph W., do Norcross, Rev. Flavius, V., Union. Herrill, M. J. Warren, do Warren, Dea. Nahum, VetUie. Stowell, Mrs. Mary, do Cutting, Des.. John N., Warren. Chandler, Miss Ann M.., Freeport. Pope Edward A., WelIs. Cutler. Miss Eliza F., do King, Mrs. Susan. Whitefield. Gray, Mrs. Isabella T., do Chandler, Jolm Howard, Winthrop. Noyes, George, do Blanchard. SylvanUS B., Yarmouth. Palmer, Mrs. Maria B., do Blanchard, Miss Abby Ann W., do Soule, Mrs. Anne l., do Blanchard, Miss Frances E., do Thing, Miss Catherine M., do Burbank, M.rs. EliIAbeth R., do Sewall, Mrs. Ha.ry D., Fryeburg. Loring, A. Lo, d(} Souther, Mrs. K. C., do Walker, Truxton, do Hibbard, Bev. David 8., Gonldaborougb. Winslow, Mrs. Polly, do Vinton, Mrs. Harriet Lot Gray. Young, Capt. John, do Weymouth, Mrs. Mary,. do

OTHER STATES.

Wuhburn, Mrs. Elizabeth, Medtbrd,lfs.1 Hammond, BeT., Edward P., V~on, 0· Rogers, Gao. L., Esq., Newb&JrYPC)rt, Me. Pickard, Miss Fauny M., MadisoD, WIB. Fox, Mrs. Elizabeth F, Jewett City, Ct.