this great Spirit, is it a ghost? A shadow, like that of your body in a dark corner of the room? Where is it? Where does this Spirit dwell? Did you ever see him? Shew him to me. Thus they are perplexed-but we have seen a disposition for inquiry increasing among them.-It seems as

ghost I suppose; I have seen a ghost. and heard him make a noise, near where my friend was buried." I said "He is not a ghost, but a great Spirit whom no man can see." Osage. "How, then, do you know that he exists? I do not see you; I do not see your mind that thinks, wills and governs your body as a chief gov-if some among them, begin to feel erns his people. I see your hands, your feet, your mouth, eyes, &c. but these are not the Chief, that governs." Osage. "No, these are my slaves or servants." "Well as you cannot see that thinking thing that governs your limbs; so you cannot see that Spirit that governs the world: you can see his works, the sun, the moon, the stars, and so many servants, that roll round, and shine at his command, but the august Being, who made, and who rules the world, is invisible." This rersoning seemed sufficient, and I left the man pondering on the unknown God.

after God. Surely their darkness is enough to call forth the pity, the prayers and the pains of all christian people. To see their medicine and ceremonies, their confidence in their dreamers, in their medicine racana, or in other words, their idolatry-to hear them praying daily, and at the same time offer a sacrifice of tobacco smoke to their Gods, to behold them steal a great many horses, and to kill a great heap of Pawnees or other enemies--to see the monotonous inactivity of the men, except when at war, hunting the game, and the equally monotonous diligence and drudgery of the females, without the respite of one solitary day in the course of a year, is painful. Let the story of their wretchedness be sufficient-do not say I will wait until I can see with mine eyes; the account is true. Awake, awake christians! and put on bowels and mercies;-put on charity, and be ye all of one mind in the work of sending the gospel to the heathen. Your missionaries are striving together. They ask not for luxuries and ease, but they ask for your prayers and support; you have not only the negative request of Abraham's servant, "hinder me not;" but the positive injunction from heaven

At another time, a few Sabbaths since, I said to an aged man, who sat in my room. How many Gods have the Osages? He held up his fingers and counted five."Sun, moon, thunder, the air, and the earth." Then I asked him if they prayed to them. "Yes." "But have they ears? Can they hear? Have they a mouth? Can they speak to you, or answer you when you pray? Have they eyes? Can they see what you want? the sun is like the fire on the hearth. Would you pray to that fire? Can it speak, or hear? Thunder makes a noise something like your gun. Do you pray to your gun? Can your gun speak, hear, or see? Thus I led him -"encourage him." I have seen the to see, and to acknowledge, that their darkness of this people, and it is my gods were poor. "To us" said I, earnest prayer that I may live to see there is one God-a Spirit great them brought into the light. I have and good, who made all things that seen them wretched, oh! may I be you see." It is easy to drive them permitted to see them renovated and from their own notions, but you can-made blessed, through the gospel of not so easily lead them into the true our Lord Jesus Christ. I have seen belief; here they stumble. What is them wandering without a shepherd;

200

Success of Charitable Institutions.

adopted; and a refutation of his false statements and slanders, which appeared under the title of "A Reply to the Goat's of Columbia," established the designation.

In addition to the information furnished by "an observer," we learn the Pendleton Bible Society of S. C., is now more flourishing than in preceding years; and we are satisfied that experience will more produce the conviction, that for this very cause were these opponents raised up-to exhibit the fruitlessness of every attempt to retard the work of the Almighty, or prevent the extension of his kingdom on the earth.

When the Goats of Columbia made. an attack upon the American Bible Society, in connexion with the other benevolent institutions of the present day, there was but one Bible So lety in the upper part of the State of SouthCarolina, and few were doing any thing to encourage the wider circu lation of the Holy Scriptures. But since said attack from the Goats, the ladies of Edgefield have constituted their pastor, the Rev. Mr. Manly, a member for life of the American Bible Society; and a Bible Society has been organized in Abbeville, another in Laurens, a third in Green ville, a fourth in Union, a fifth in Chesterville, and a sixth in Darlington, all auxiliary to the American Bible Society, and the names of many of the most influential citizens are enrolled among the number of their officers.

That the extract we make on this subject may be more intelligible to readers in this quarter, we give a brief explanation of the origin and signification of the name "Goats of Columbia." About a year since, through the instrumentality of some one unfriendly to religious charities, a short piece, in the form of a sermon, on Proverbs xxvii. 27. "And thou shalt have goat's milk enough for thy food, &c.," was republished in Columbia; and succeeded by an "ap plication of it to the state of South Carolina," signed, "one of the goats." The doctrine aduced from the text was, in substance, that "goat's milk" was the wealth of the unregenerate, and this was claimed as a right, on the authority of the text, by the agents and managers of those institutions for religious objects that were sustain- When the Goats of Columbia made ed by charity, and chiefly for their their attack upon the cause of misown advantages, &c., &c., and the sions, and especially upon the "application" was an indiscriminate Missionary Society of the Synod of attack upon, and abuse of, every be-South-Carolina and Georgia, and nevolent exertion for the advancement of religion. Bible Societies were schemes of speculation, and missionary establishments plans of swindling, and so of the rest.

The favorers of this writer were distinguished by the name he had

the Chickasaw mission, that Society was in debt, and its funds so low, that the managers were afraid that they would be obliged to limit the school at Monroe to thirty scholars, not withstanding the most pressing solicitations from the Indians to

An Atheist Converted-Religious Restrictions in Russia.

Feceive more.

201

But since the attack | who had produced in him so strange a revolution. The next day he even went in search of him; he opened to him his heart, asked his advice, hearkened to him with attention, with eagerness, and from that moment renounced, for ever, the vain sophisms of false philosophers. Such is the

from the Goats, the funds of the So ciety have risen so as to enable them to pay all their debts, and receive at least fifty Indian children, to be fed, clothed, and educated at the expense of the Society. "Surely the wrath of man shall praise the Lord, and the remainder of wrath shalt thou re-power of grace, it can produce in a strain."

AN ATHEIST CONVERTED.

And a word spoken in due season, how good it is? Prov. xv. 25.

moment the most surprising changes,' and its effects will ever confound the incredulous observer, who shall be acquainted with the human heart.”

Thus is the word of the Lord, as a hammer which breaketh the rock in pieces.

RELIGIOUS RESTRICTIONS IN RUSSIA.

The following story of an atheist who was converted by a single word, is thus related by Madam de Genlis, in her 66 Religion considered as the only bases of happiness and true PhiA Report has lately circulated, that losophy," vol. 1. page 76. She says the Emperor Alexander had prohi others, after having doubted all bited the preaching of the Gospel by their lives, change in a moment their the Moravian Missionaries. This, sentiment and dispositions. I knew we are sorry to say, is, in part too a man of great sense and very high well founded, as appears by the pubcharacter, whose conversion was lications of the United Brethren. The brought about by a single word. He Moravian Brethren at Sarepta appliwas yet in the age of the passions;ed to the Russian Government for he had never professed the least permission to carry on the work of principle of religion; and he prided the Mission among the Heathen in himself on being an atheist. One the Russian dominions, in the usual day, in the presence of an ecclesiasmanner; and to instruct, baptize, and tic, equally distinguished by his collect congregations of those who virtues and talents, he affected to should believe; but this liberty was brave all decorum, which ought at that refused, on the ground of an old exinstant to have constrained him to have isting law, that no heathen, under held his tongue at least; and after Russian sway, should be converted giving him a detail of his sentiments to Christianity, and baptized, but by and opinions, he ironically said, that the Russian clergy. This reminds according to every appearance he us of a passage in Isaiah," They should never be converted. Ah, ex-frame iniquity by a law;" and of cclaimed the ecclesiastic, who till then what the Jews said when Christ was had been silent, if you could but hope! arraigned before Pilate, "We have He said no more, he got up and went a law, and by our law he ought to out. But these words made a deep die." impression upon the heart of the atheWhen we consider the absolute auist. He had no difficulty to compre- thoiity of the Emperor of Russia, and hend their energetic meaning; he that his mere word might give the lifelt himself moved and affected; aberty solicited, we are ready to fear crowd of new reflections presented that his pretensions to religion are themselves to his mind; he longed to merely nominal, and to be considered see and converse again with the man of no more value than those of the an

902

Misstatement Corrected.

cient pharisees. Particular leave, roused the jealonsy of her enemies,however, has been granted to preach of her religion-into operation. Shortand distribute the Bible by the Mora

vians, amongst the Calmucs. And itly after her departure from her nais said, also, that the restriction in tive country to the scene of her laquestion does not, in fact, extend to bors, a publication appeared in the the Missions of the Scottish Society. Galaxy, of Boston, asserting as fact, The Brethren at Sarepta are greatly on the authority of Mrs. Judson's acperplexed, but patiently wait on the Lord to remove the difficulties which quaintances, that her visiting dress now obstruct the spread of his Gospel. amounted to twelve hundred dollars! The Scottish Missionary Society view and that this dress was got at the exalso with uneasiness, the restriction pense of her employers! The publicaon the Moravians, and fear it may be tion of the Galaxy was quickly blafinally brought to bear on them. zoned abroad, thro' those When shall the counsel of the Psalm-' depapers ist be obeyed,Be wise now, there- voted to the same principles. Sevefore, O ye kings ?" We fear, not ral articles were published in answer until this oracle is more generally ac to the statement. The Baptist associcomplished and executed, "He shall dash them in pieces as a potter'sation finding that it would tend to in

vessel."

(Watchman.

CARLISLE, OCTOBER 17.

MISSTATEMENT CORRECTED.

often,

With what avidity do the enemies of the Missionary cause catch at any thing calculated to sink it in the esti mation of the public; and how often does this calumny fly back on their own heads? We have had a striking instance of this fact lately realized.-It will, perhaps, be remembered by ma

ny

of our readers, that some months since, Mrs. Judson, a very devoted missionary female, who had been laboring for some years in the Burm ah Islands, whose ill health had induced to take a voyage to England, and from thence to this country. While here, she was actively engaged in collecting funds for the support of schools in the Island whereon she labored. She had, during her stay in this country, excited considerable public attention; so much so, that it

jure the cause, in the minds of many who were the supporters of missionaries, appointed a committee to inquire into the facts; trace the story to its source and set it correctly hefore the public. We should, before entering upon the facts stated by the committee, mention the items said to have cost such an enormous sum, in order better to see the contrast.

The

Galaxy stated that her Cashmere shawl cost $600; her Leghorn flat $150; the lace trimmings on the gown $150; and the remaining $300 was taken up in jewelry!

One of the committee, Mr. Lincoln, being introduced to the person who authorized the publication, was referred to his own mother as the person, who had been in "habits of familiar intercourse with Mrs. Judson," for his authority; who informed Mr. L. she had never seen her; but referred him to another, and her to another, till the story was found to have

Horrors of the Slave Trade-Young Men's Mis. Soe.

906

originated 30 miles from where it was ment, a Spanish schooner, manned by said to be original!-But on estimat- 155 men having on board 380 slaves; a ing the value of Mrs. Judson's dress, Spanish schooner, 45 men and 300 it was found that her shawl, (stated slaves; a French brig of 30 men, and to have cost g600,) a present from a 340 slaves; a French brig of 25 men, lady in England, was, at its highest and 280 slaves; a French Brigantine valuation, worth, and only cost twen- of 27 men, and 247 slaves; making ty-five dollars! The Leghorn Flat in all 1547 slaves, bound in chains (said to cost $50,) was purchased in of bondage; engaged in shackiling Salem, and only cost eight dollars and which, were 182 persons, whose coun fifty cents! Her most intimate female try and education should have taught friends, do not recollect of seeing any to respect the souls, and the lilace on her gown; and as to her Jew- berties of others; but who, led on by elry valued at $300, by the Galaxy, the Siren song of avarice, are except a chain and locket, presumed prompted to engage in the most diato be a present, was not worth five dol-bolical practices of which civilized lars! These are the facts stated by the man could be guilty. committee; a statement made by men of the first respectability; a statement made from known, and investigated facts; a statement, which should put to the blush the propagators of such vile falsehoods, and cause them pub-their hands! And when they found licly to repent of their temerity and themselves taken, they set a lighted wonton abuse of a devoted follower match over the magazine of one of of the meek and lowly Saviour. It the small schooners, with the intenis to be hoped, that the enemies of tion to destroy her, and her lading, Missionaries, finding the "work to be which had it went off, would have of God,” will refrain to annoy its sup-blown to destruction 300 miserable porters, least, hapily they be found souls! Here we have some idea of even fighting against Jehovah.

HORRORS OF THE SLAVE TRADE.

When these free-booters were attacked by the Iphigenia, (the vessel in which Lieut. M. captured them,) it was the intention of some to murder him and crew, should they fall into

the principles and dispositions of slave traders. And what are they, but murder and assassination?

From an extract from a report, respecting the suppression of the Slave At a meeting of the "Young Men's Trade, we are informed, that the traf- Missionary Society of Cumberland fic in human flesh, is, by the inhabit-County," convened in the county hall, Mr. Wm. B. Norris was called to the ants of many nations, carried on to an chair, and Mr. Geo. A. Lyon, jr. ap alarming extent. The official The official ac-pointed Secretary. count of Lieut. Mildmay, of his operations against the slave traders, mentions, that he captured at one engage

The following officers were then unanimously elected:

President-Erskine Mason.