has afforded us much pleasure to use any exertion in their behalf. Had the season been more mild, perhaps our labours would have been more successful. "We give some particulars of the state of the congregations in which we officiated. "Somerset is an interesting little village. There are a Lutheran and a Presbyterian society established in it. The inhabitants, generally speaking, are liberal in their sentiments towards the church. The Episcopalians have been long wishing to enjoy the ministrations of the church, and are anxiously waiting the time when missionaries shall be sent out. A missionary might be usefully employed, stationed at this place, to officiate occasionally at Bedford, Greensburgh, and Stoystown. Mount-Pleasant ought not to be neglected. The people there are anxious for a share of missionary labours. We found them remarkably attentive to the service, rubrical and devout. "At Connelsville we were much pleased to notice the attention given to divine things. Christians of other denominations evinced there a mild and becoming spirit to the church. The people were solemn, serious, and engaged heartily in the animating services of the liturgy. They are anxious for the truths of the gospel, and their good works are an index of that precious faith which is the ornament of their profession. "Several families not only in this but in the neighbouring towns, from the want of the regular ministrations of the church, have connected themselves with the Methodists. There are about twenty Episcopal families who would joyfully welcome an Episcopal clergyman. An Episcopal church has been organized by the name of St. Matthew's. The congregation are about erecting an edifice calculated to be neat and commodious. We anticipate much pleasure when our Sion will here flourish and be instrumental in enlivening, quickening and strengthening her children, in the faith once delivered to the saints. "In Uniontown we were much delighted in the zeal manifested by the friends of the church. Seldom have we noticed a more familiar acquaintance with the doctrines and peculiarities of the church, or a greater perseverance in diffusing her sacred principles than was here evinced. The ardour of some individuals, and their willingness to co-operate with our exertions to build up the church of God were highly commendable. Much harmony prevails among the different denominations, and we may in truth say, there are many who serve God in the beauty of holiness. A church has been organized by the name of St. church. Service was held at Jackson's church, five miles from Uniontown. Some few that remain of the congregation are firm and pious friends of the church. They have almost despaired of a missionary; and if the church falls, it will fall honourably on their part, for the want of a clergyman. " In our visit to the flourishing village of Brownsville, whose praise is in all the churches, we were entertained with the evidences of piety and holy ardour evinced by the people. Several are awakened to a sense of their Christian obligations, and the salvation of their souls, among whom are the young, who consecrate their lives to the service of their Maker. Alas! how can they preserve a unity of membership with the visible church, without a participation of its ordinances? and how shall these be administered except preachers be sent? These destitute people remember, with gratitude, the services of the Rev. Mr. Kemper, the Rev. Mr. Clay, the Rev. Mr. Douglass, and the Rev. Mr. Carter. Their labour of love will not be forgotten as long as their memories retain their powers, or their hearts their vibrations. Their cry is now for labourers in this destitute part of the Lord's vineyard. The church has been planted several years, and at one time prospered. It has until within a year past languished. The exertion of zeal, public spirit, and emulation is now too great, and their perseverance too noble to be baffled. They have enclosed a large and handsome stone church, which is finely situated, and has a commanding view of the beautiful village it adorns. Had it not been for the pressure of the times, it would have been completed before this. They intend that it shall be soon finished in good taste, and ready for consecration. A clergyman could be handsomely supported from this place, uniting Connelsville and Uniontown, with the assistance proposed by the society for the Advancement of Christianity in Pennsylvania. " By information gathered at Brownsville, we learned that the churches in Carmicletown, in Greene county, and the one at Redstone, four miles from Brownsville, on the Monongahela, are in a lamentable condition; entirely fallen, by being deprived of missionary services. "At West's Church, seven miles from Brownsville, service was held. Although the people live somewhat remote from the church, and notwithstanding the shortness of the notice, and the severity of the weather, these scattered sheep assembled in the sanctuary, to fall down and kneel before the Lord their God, to pour forth their spiritual wants, to go forth to the highest heavens, even to the throne of the Holy One. Their humble log temple is built not of the cedars of Libanus, but of the oak of the forest; and although it has never had within its walls the pious father and venerable prelate of the diocess, yet the hearts of its worshippers have been comforted with the assurance of the Saviour, that wherever two or three are gathered together in his name, he will be in the midst of them. "Measures have been taken in every place where we have officiated, to have the churches organized and incorporated. We have distributed the religious tracts that were intrusted to us. They were received every where with pleasure. A few more Prayer Books would be very useful to the people. This report may serve to give some information of the church in this region. We have uniformly encouraged the Episcopalians with the hope that at least two missionaries will come out to them in the ensuing season. We pray that the Lord may bless our feeble efforts, and the labours of those whom, in his providence, he shall direct here to labour. "We cannot but entreat our more wealthy and favoured brethren in the east to continue their late zealous endeavours to advance the Redeemer's kingdom. We hope that in this western world, by the aid of a few more missionaries, the church will increase and display her evangelical power, and that God will fit her members, by the frequent use of her ordinances, to join the saints in light. We pray that the zeal which has so happily dawned in the east, will gradually spread in shedding its evening splendour on this western Sion, and that we may all be faithful to the interests of the Redeemer's cause till the earth shall be one altar, and the heavens one temple of Jehovah." It is with deep regret the trustees mention that the flourishing congregation at Pittsburgh has been vacant for several months. The prosperity of the church in this place is of vital importance to the interests of our communion in the west. The most anxious solicitude is felt that a clergyman of piety and talents may be permanently settled at this city. If Pittsburgh has been so long vacant, it will not be surprising that several places have been unvisited during the past year. The efforts of the board have been unavailing to obtain a missionary for New-London Cross Roads, and the churches in the counties of Adams, Columbia, Susquehannah, and Bradford. A temporary union was formed by the Episcopalians in the two last named counties, and exertions were made, in compliance with the wish of the congregations of NewMilford, Pike, and Springville, to induce the Rev. Mr. Phinney to settle among them. But Mr. Phinney had already engaged to remove to the state of New-York. These congregations received, during the past summer, a very short visit from Mr. Roche, who kindly left his charge for the purpose, and who was amply rewarded for his journey in the satisfaction of finding them very desirous of having a regu lar administration of the ordinances of the gospel. "In August last," says Mr. Roche, "I visited the congregations of Wyalusing (Pike), New-Milford, and Springville. Here I was delighted to find persons sincerely attached to our church. Though they never have had the regular ministration of the word and ordinances, yet they appear to be earnestly engaged in the important concern of religion. Great seriousness and attention were manifested among them. I was inclined to believe that they were willing to receive Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth, not with the lips only, but also with the heart. Some of the elder part of the congregations asked me, with much earnestness, even with tears, if I thought it probable any one could be procured to dispense to them the bread of life? They said they had raised a subscription of three hundred dollars, and that to this they would freely add the board of the clergyman, with a horse and the expense of keeping Should any minister undertake to supply these congregations, by residing at the town of Montrose, he would be within half a day's ride of each church. There is not the least doubt in my mind, from what I beheld of the people that the labours of a faithful servant would not be in vain; but that he would see an abundant harvest springing forth from the good seed of the gospel. They long anxiously for a presbyter to spread before them the sacred table, and distribute the body and blood of Jesus. These congregations are in the constant practice of assembling on the Lord's day, and having the service performed by a lay reader. By this means they have been kept, through the great Head of the church, united together in harmony and love." Although the trustees have not been enabled, in every instance, to send missionaries to those places which were mentioned in the last report, yet they have the satisfaction of announcing that several new and interesting fields of labour have opened before them during the past year. Information has been received from Meadville, in Crawford county; from Millerstown, in Cumberland county; and from Miflintown and Thompsontown, in Mifflin county, that there are several families in these places who would delight in contributing towards the support of an Episcopal clergyman. But the situations which have attracted the greatest attention of the trustees are those of Easton and Northumberland. The former place was visited by the Rev. Mr. Muhlenberg in August, who officiated there six times to an attentive congregation. Here the zeal of a few individuals, it is confidently believed, will accomplish much good. Our service has been regularly celebrated for some time by lay readers. So great has been their solicitude for having a clergyman settled among them, and so gratifying the assurances of the most cordial cooperation to the extent of their means, that the trustees have determined to direct the exclusive attention of Mr. Rodney, who has offered his services to the society as a missionary, and who is to be ord ordained on next Sunday, to this beautiful and interesting village for at least one year; with the firm belief that before twelve months have elapsed the Episcopalians of Easton will be organized into a congregation, and possess a place of public worship. After considerable exertions and much correspondence, the board is happy to mention that the Rev. Mr. Plumb, of Connecticut, will settle before the conclusion of this month at Northumberland; where, besides being principal of the academy, he will officiate to a small congregation, and, it is expected, will extend his pastoral care to a church at Milton, and to a few Episcopalians residing at Selin's Grove. The board has thus faithfully endeavoured, to the extent of its abilities, " to send forth, under the sanction and direction of the ecclesiastical authority of the diocess, missionaries to those places within this state where there is ground for the expectation that their labours will be useful in spreading the truths, and promoting the practice of the holy morality of the gospel." It must be a source of grief to every reflecting mind, that the exertions of the society upon this subject have always been limited by the difficulty of obtaining clergymen to enter into its service, in consequence of the small number who have hitherto devoted themselves to the ministry of reconciliation. The existence of this society is now generally known throughout the diocess. It is no longer the first wish of the board to send missionaries through the state, to explore its villages and remotest corners for Episcopalians, or to remain for a few weeks in one neighbourhood. These duties have already been performed. Missionaries are now wanted for location in those congregations which, it is expected, will be strong enough, after they have been fostered for a few years by this society, to give a comfortable support to their own clergyman. Hereafter, therefore, it is the intention of the board, except in particular cases, not to enter into any engagement with a clergyman for a period of time less than one year. The second of the principal objects of this society, is to provide means for the education of young men willing to devote themselves to the ministry. The board having been very seldom applied to for assistance in this way, and having understood from the most respectable sources that there were a considerable number of theological students in this diocess, deemed it at once an expression of their solicitude upon the subject, and the very best means of providing future missionaries for the society, to appropriate a sum of money for the use of a "clergyman, whose duty it shall be to act as a teacher of theology, provided the ecclesiastical authority of the state shall make such appointment." The authority referred to readily consented to the request, and the Rev. Samuel H. Turner has had the goodness to accept of a situation to which his acquirements, talents, and piety eminently entitle him. A small but valuable importation of theological books has been made from England since the last report. Although these works are of the first importance to the candidates for orders, they will be very seldom met with in this country. The library is not complete: we therefore earnestly solicit the members of the society and others to make donations to a collec tion which will always be of the greatest use to clergymen and students, and will doubtless be instrumental in augmenting the number of powerful labourers in the spiritual vineyard. The Female Episcopal Tract Society of Philadelphia, which is auxiliary to this society, has published, since our last report, the following tracts. No. 9. The sixth Part of the two Wealthy Farmers, by Miss Hannah More. No. 10. The seventh Part of the same. Sunday Schools. No. 14. History of Tom White the Postillion. No. 16. The two Lambs. "In our selection," say the ladies in their second annual report, "attention has been paid to the various descriptions of readers for whom the tracts were intended; for some, the more captivating form of narrative, founded either on fiction or fact, conveying, however, sound religious instruction, has been preferred; for others, the graver and more formal discussion of important subjects has been thought more proper; and several of the last numbers have been expressly designed for the use of our Sunday Schools." One more extract shall be given from the very gratifying report of the managers of this so ciety, in the hope that it will obtain for them that share of patronage they so richly deserve, and that it may have a tendency to remove from the minds of Episcopalians the prejudices which sometimes exists against the distribus tion of tracts. "From various reports of societies, similar to our own, we read detailed accounts of individuals, families, and neighbourhoods, where these little messengers of scriptual truth have been instrumental in producing the happiest results. Besides, we have for our encouragement the example of former times: when the reformation, that eventful period in the history of the church, first began, and during its progress, the means employed to effect that astonishing change in the moral and religious state of the world, were very similar to those now used by tract societies. The word of God, which had been hid for ages from the eyes of the people, was distributed in separate parcels, that all might read it, and a vast variety of short scriptural and impressive tracts was published and widely circulated. Several of these compositions yet remain as proofs of the activity of those to whom we are indebted for our religious privileges, and as an example for us to imitate." Three hundred and thirteen copies of the Book of Common Prayer have been distributed during the past year. It was expected that the society which has devoted its attention exclusively to this object, would have been enabled to comply with the most extensive demands relative to this invaluable book; but the purchase of a set of stereotype plates of an octavo size, and the issuing of a large edition, which was executed with great accuracy, and in a peculiarly neat manner, have debarred that institution, for the present, from exercising the liberality for which they will doubtless hereafter be celebrated, and by which they will place it in the power of your trustees to devote a greater portion of their income than they have ever yet done to missionary purposes. From the treasurer's accounts it appears that, including the sale of four hundred dollars United States six per cent. stock, and the balance of the former account, there have been received, during the last year, three thousand and twenty one dollars and fifty-eight cents. The ordinary expenses of the society during the same time amounted to one thousand six hundred and forty-six dollars thirtyfive cents. There have been loaned to the Common Prayer Book Society nine hundred dollars; and the balance on hand on the twenty-second of December was four hundred and seventyfive dollars twenty-three cents. The trustees take this opportunity of gratefully acknowledging a dona tion of one hundred dollars from the congregation of St. James's Church, Lancaster-and, while they tender their acknowledgments to this congregation, they take the liberty of reminding other churches in the diocess that similar donations would be very thankfully received. As the society, which has hitherto been almost exclusively supported by the Episcopalians of the city, extends its charity throughout the state, it may reasonably expect the patronage of all our brethren within that limit. In concluding their report, the trustees feel themselves authorized to call not only upon every member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, but up on every friend of religion, to aid them in the important concerns in which they are engaged. The most interesting spheres of usefulness are daily opening before them. The cry is heard from every quarter of the diocess, "Come and help us." We have raised hopes and exalted expectations. Shall these be realized? or, by withdrawing your subscriptions, will you suffer them to be blasted? We are under engagements to a considerable amount. There are many stations to which duty bids us to send missionaries. Fully convinced that the cause we are engaged in is the cause of the Redeemer, and recollecting the immense importance of immortal souls, we earnestly and affectionately solicit an increase of patronage. We have already accomplished much; but a vast deal remains to be done. There are thousands of our fellow worshippers in this state, who, from the peculiarity of their situation, are debarred from the inestimable privileges of our holy faith: and there are tens of thousands within the bounds of this diocess who in reality belong to no denomination, |