The latter part of October there began to be evident appearances of conviction, in different parts of the town. Sabbath and conference meetings became crowded; and many were inquiring what they should do to be saved.

During the revival, perhaps nearly 200 have been hopefully brought into the possession of religion. Some of whom have not as yet joined the church. I conclude that between forty and fifty have united with any Congregational church in this place. The additions with us since the commencement of the work are an hundred and seven, six of whom have been added by letters. The converts generally maintain a good degree of engagedness in the cause. Many of them are in the bloom of youth. One of whom, a young man, soon after he had made a religious profession, ended his warfare, and sleeps with the pious dead. The reformation has given rise to a large Female Mite Society, to aid missionary funds and the education of youth for the ministry.

BENEVOLENT EXERTIONS.

Extract of a letter from the Rev. Robert Johnston, to the editor of the Chillicothe Recorder, dated Forks of Yough, Feb. 21.

The church in this place is composed of a goodly number of decent and respectable professors, many of whom, we have reason to believe, are really pious, and some, we trust, are looking and longing for times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, though nothing very encouraging has yet appeared. We have had an addition of six to the communion this winter, and two of that number, women who have families, were baptized. We have lately witnessed an almost unanimous zeal in the Forks, in both sexes, to engage in benevolent institutions. The ladies have recently organized a Cent Society, which promises important aid to the funds of the Western Missionary Society. A Bible Society was formed on the 12th inst. including the Rev. Matthew Henderson's charge and mine, which appears to meet with very general concurrence. The day we met to organize exhibited a zeal and unanimity which the precepts of that Holy Book are calculated to inspire. About a hundred names were added to the long list of Zion's professed friends, at our first meeting. I expect to present you with a copy of our Constitution and Address, perhaps by the next mail. Late in the fall I proposed to form a Bible class in each branch of my charge, on the plan recommended by the General Assembly. So soon as I got my people to understand the design of the institution, it met with encouraging attention; and the experience of a few evenings has procured the most unqualified approbation of old and young, as the best institution for improving the mind in the knowledge of God, and the Bible, that has ever been known in the church. The number that meet in each congregation once in two weeks, is generally between eighty and a hundred. As it respects myself, I can say it is the most pleasing and laborious undertaking I ever attempted. We seldom get through the examina

tion under three hours. I believe this is one of the means by which the Redeemer is about establishing his universal dominion on earth. Dear friend, the mighty machine is in operation, which will shortly demolish the strong holds of Satan, overturn the whole empire of darkness, and establish the Redeemer's kingdom in every land.That this joyful event may soon be realized by every people, kindred and nation, is the prayer of your friend and brother in the Gospel of our common Lord.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE AMERICAN bible society.

The Treasurer of the American Bible Society has acknowledged the receipt of the following contributions, in March, 1818.—viz :

From the Norfolk Bible Society, a donation of 150 Dollars; the Washington county B. S. (N. Y.) 370 Dollars, their surplus funds; the Lynchburgh B. S. (Va.) 350 Dollars, part of their surplus funds; the New-Jersey B. S. 500 Dollars, to purchase Bibles; Samuel Bayard, Esq., 50 Dollars, to purchase Bibles; the Reformed Dutch Church at English Neighbourhood, Bergen county, (N. J.) 160 Dollars, to constitute their pastor, the Rev. Cornelius J. Demarest, a Director for life; the students of Middlebury College, (Vermont,) 120 Dollars, presented to Rev. Joshua Bates, their President (in addition to 30 Dollars received 5th December last) to constitute him Director for life :-from the following gentlemen as members for life: James Monroe, Esq. President of the United States, fifty Dollars; William H. Crawford, Esq. Secretary of the Treasury U. S. 30 Dollars; J. C. Calhoun, Esq. Secretary at War, 30 Dollars; Richard Crowningshield, Esq. Secretary of the Navy, 30 Dollars; James W. M'Cullough, Esq. of Baltimore, 100 Dollars; Elias B. Caldwell, Esq. of Washington City, (D. C.) 30 Dollars also thirty Dollars each to constitute the following ministers members for life, viz:-Rev. Daniel C. Clark, by the Female Cent Society of Southbury, (Conn.); Rev. Lyman Beecher, by a number of ladies of the first Ecclesiastical Society in Litchfield, Conn.; Rev. Dr. William Neil, by a Bible Class of young ladies of his congregation, in Philadelphia; Rev. James M'Chord, by several ladies of Market-street Church, Lexington, Kentucky; Rev. Joseph E. Camp, by benevolent females in the Society of North Litchfield, Conn.; Rev. Ichabod Nichols, by a number of young gentlemen of the first Congregational Society in Portland, Maine; Rev. Nathaniel Hewit, by the ladies of Fairfield, Conn.; Rev. Thomas H. Skinner, by ladies of the Fifth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia; Rev. Archibald Alexander, by several students of the Theological Seminary at Princeton, (N. J.) Rev. Elisha Macurdy, by the congregations of Cross Roads and Three Springs, Burk's county, (Penn.); Rev. John Langdon, by the ladies of Bethlehem, Conn.; Rev. Philander Parmele, by the Female Cent Society in Bolton, Conn. :-also three Dollars for the annual contribution of each of the three following members, Rev. John Knox, of New-York; Edward Payson Willis, of Boston; and Zophar Meade, of Horseneck. (N, Y.)

2

THE CHRISTIAN HERALD.

VOL V.]

Saturday, April 18, 1818.

[No. 2.

The missionary intelligence from the South Sea Islands for nearly two years past has been of the most cheering description. Several partial accounts have been received and published during the past year, exhibiting the cause of Christianity in Otaheite and the neighbouring islands as making rapid progress. The following long expected details of the glorious work of the Lord in that region will doubtless be read with no ordinary interest.

From the London Missionary Magazine.

OTAHEITE.

We have long been waiting for official information from our Missionaries in the South Sea Islands. We are at length completely gratified. On Monday, January 19th, the following letter came to hand, which fully confirms all the preceding and imperfect accounts received from individuals in New South Wales. Idolatry is no more in Otaheite or Eimeo, and is fast giving way in other islands. The school flourishes, and many who have learned to read have dispersed themselves among the islands, and have taught others. Many hundreds can read well; at least 3000 have books among them; and hundreds of the natives can repeat the Catechism word for word.

In addition to the letter of the Missionaries, we have the pleasure of presenting to our readers the literal translation of a letter from the King of Otaheite to the Missionaries, accompanied by a present of all his family gods, (the public ones being previously destroyed,) and which he desires the Missionaries either to burn, or to send to 'Britane, for the Missionary Society, that they may see the likeness of the foolish gods which Tahiti worshipped. These, which Mr. Marsden has forwarded to England, will enrich the museum of the Society, and we shall probably give a print of them in a future number, of this work.

The following letters call anew upon the friends of the missionary cause to rejoice and be thankful. God hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad, and to Him, to Him alone, be all the glory of

our success.

HONOURED FATHERS AND BRETHREN,

Eimeo, Aug. 13, 1816.

The last letter we received from you was dated July 23d, 1814, and reached us in May, 1815, as we have mentioned before. And our last to you was dated Sept. 5th, 1815, a duplicate of which, as usual, accompanies this. We gladly embrace the present opportunity of giving you a further account of the state of the islands and of the mission. At the time the above mentioned letter was written, the state of affairs in these islands was full of confusion and uncertainty; the balance, as far as we could perceive, was nearly equipoised; it appeared very doubtful whether the heathen party, who had taken up arms to avenge the cause of the gods and the ancient customs of their forefathers, might not prevail, and occasion either the extermination or banishment of all who had embraced Christianity, together with ourselves, at least from these islands of Tahiti

E

and Eimeo. The months of July and August, previous to the date of our letter, had been with us and our poor people a time of trouble and great anxiety. The 14th of July we had set apart as a day of humiliation, fasting, and prayer, and were joined by several hundreds of our people, in seeking mercy and protection from Him who has the hearts of all men in his hands, and to whose control all actions and events are subject. It was a day of trouble' with us; and we and our persecuted people did call upon Jehovah; and we think there is no presumption in saying, our supplications were regarded, our prayers were answered, and according to his promise, He did send us deliverance,' though not in the way we anticipated or expected.

Those people at Tahiti who had embraced Christianity, having providentially made their escape and joined us at Eimeo, their enemies, as we mentioned before, quarrelled among themselves. The Attehuru party having fought with, and vanquished the Porionnu, Teharoa, &c. they and the Taiarapu party who had assisted them, quarrelled again among themselves, and fought; when the Taiarapuans were conquered, and driven to the mountains. After this there was a prospect of peace being established; and the people who on account of religion had fled to Eimeo to save their lives, were invited to return to Tahiti, and take repossession of their respective lands; those things made it necessary for the king and his people, and most of those about us, to go over to Tahiti, in company with the different parties of refugees, and, according to an ancient custom of the country, to reinstate them in a formal manner in their old possessions. On the arrival of the king, and those that followed him, at Tahiti, the idolatrous party appeared on the beach in a hostile manner; seemed determined to oppose the king's landing; and soon fired on his party; but, by the king's strict orders, the fire was not returned, but a message of peace was sent to them, which was productive of the exchange of several messages, and at last apparently issued in peace and reconciliation.

*

In consequence of this, several of the people returned peaceably to their different lands; but still fears and jealousies existed on both sides, and this state of things continued till Sabbath day Nov. 12th, 1815, when the heathen party taking advantage of the day, and of the time when the king and all the people were assembled for worship, made a furious, sudden, and unexpected assault, thinking they could at such a time easily throw the whole into confusion. They approached with confidence, their prophet having assured them of an easy victory. In this, however, they were mistaken. It happened that we had warned our people before they went to Tahiti of the probability of such a stratagem being practised in case a war should take place; in consequence of which they attended worship under arms; and though at first they were thrown into some coniusion, they soon formed for repelling the assailants: the engagement became warm and furious, and several fell on both sides.

In the king's party there were many of the refugees from the several parties who had not yet embraced Christianity; but our people not de.

pending upon them, took the lead in facing the enemy, and as they were not all engaged at once, being among bushes and trees, those that had a few minutes of respite fell on their knees, crying to Jehovah for mercy and protection, and that he would be pleased to support his cause against the idols of the heathen. Soon after the commencement of the engagement, Upufara, the Chief of Papara, (the principal man on the side of the idolaters,) was killed; this, as soon as it was known, threw the whole of his party into confusion, and Pomare's party quickly gained a complete victory. However, the vanquished were treated with great lenity and moderation; and Pomare gave strict orders that they should not be pursued, and that the women and children should be well treated. This was complied with; not a woman or child was hurt; nor was the property of the vanquished plundered. The bodies also of those who fell in the engagement, contrary to the former barbarous practice, were decently buried; and the body of the Chief of Papara was taken in a respectful manner to his own land, to be buried there.

These things had a happy effect upon the minds of the idolaters. They unanimously declared that they would trust the gods no longer; that they had deceived them, and sought their ruin; that henceforward they would cast them away entirely, and embrace this new religion, which is so distinguished by its mildness, goodness, and forbearance.

In the evening after the battle the professors of Christianity assembled together to worship and praise Jehovah for the happy turn which their affairs had taken. In this they were joined by many who had till then been the zealous worshippers of the idols. After this, Pomare was by universal consent restored to his former government of Tahiti and its dependencies; since which he has constituted Chiefs in the several districts, some of whom had for a long time made a public profession of Christianity, and had been for many months attending the means of instruction with us at Eimeo.

In consequence of these events, idolatry was entirely abolished both at Tahiti and Eimeo; and we have the great, but formerly unexpected satisfaction, of being able to say, that Tahiti and Eimeo, together with the small islands of Tapuamanu and Teturoa, are now altogether in profession, Christian Islands. The gods are destroyed, the maries demolished, human sacrifices, and infant murder, we hope, for ever abolished; and the people every where calling upon us to come and teach them.

The Sabbath day is also every where strictly observed, and places for the worship of the true God have been erected, and are now erecting, in every district; and where there is no preaching, the people have prayer-meetings every Sabbath and every Wednesday evening, all round Tahiti and Eimeo.

But this is not all; we have also good news to communicate about the Leeward Islands. Tamatoa, or as he is now called Tapa, the principal Chief, has also publicly renounced idolatry, and embraced Christianity. His example has been followed by most of the other Chiefs, and a large majority of the people throughout the four Socie