AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY.

AGENCY WEST OF THE ALLEGANIES.

THE appointment of the Rev. Ornan Eastman, as general agent for the American Tract Society, was noticed in the last volume, p. 333. Some statements respecting the population of that portion of our country, and the need of immediate and vigorous efforts to disseminate religious knowledge there, have since been made by the officers of the society.-From these statements some extracts are inserted here.

is an object that might well command the resources of the world; but when we are to consult, not only for them, but for their children and children's children; and when in a few years they are to increase from 4,000,000 to 8,000,000, and then to 12,000,000, 20,000,000, and onward, the importance of supplying them with the Gospel outweighs all human estimation.

The object of the Society will be to form large Auxiliaries, having depositories, in all the principal towns; and then to form auxiliary Tract Associations in every town, and village, and neighborhood around; till, if possible, one or more tracts "directing the sinner to the Saviour," shall be placed in every family. All who can be induced to associate themselves with these auxiliaries, will be supplied with tracts at the cost prices: to all who have not the ability to pay for them, or who, knowing not their value and caring not for their souls' salvation, will do nothing to supply themselves, it will be felt a duty to carry tracts and deliver them, as God's message, "without money and without price." If there are 4,000,000 in the valley of Mississippi, and each family contains seven individuals, the expense of sending two tracts of the usual size to each family will exceed $11,400. But far more than this must be done every year, or the provision made by tracts for the spiritual wants of that population will be small indeed.

This great valley, extending from the Allegany to the Rocky Mountains, and from the Gulf of Mexico to the northern lakes, embraces a territory very fertile, capable of sustaining a dense population, and larger in extent than all the remaining territory under the jurisdiction of the United States. In 1790, the actual civilized population existing within these boundaries was less than 150,000; it now exceeds 4,000,000; and, according to the best calculations that can be made, it will be, in the year 1850, nearly or quite 12,000,000; will exceed the whole remaining population of our country; and be entitled to a predominant influence in our national councils. Three other agents have been appointed by Many a child, who reads these lines, may see the the society, to co-operate with Mr. Eastman, day, when the valley of the Mississippi will embrace one of the most populous and powerful nain this great and interesting work. The subtions in Christendom. There is a majesty and a || scriptions to the society's funds for the special solemnity in this march of population, which ought purpose of giving efficiency to this agency deeply to affect the mind, and to be taken most amounted in the city of New York to about $6,000, seriously into the account in our plans of usefulness. The spiritual welfare of 4,000,000 of souls and in Boston, to about $1,500.-Am. Tr. Mag.

Miscellanies.

THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST.

THE following extracts are from the pen of the late John Mason Good, M. D., and were inserted in the memoirs of him by Dr. Gregory. They contain sentiments which may serve to guide and animate those who are engaged in moting that kingdom to which they relate.

gone to give an account of this momentous concern at the bar of the final Judge; or follow up their successors into the witty or the fashionable circles of the day, how small is the aggregate of their contributions! A precious example of genuine piety, issuing from the one or the other of these sources, is occasionally to be pro-ing opaque with its refreshing lustre, as though traced in the horizon, illuminating the surroundto show that such a meteor is possible; while the general body seem spell-bound, for the purpose of verifying our Saviour's declaration, "My kingdom is not of this world."

"My kingdom," said our Saviour, "is not of this world." And it is wonderful to behold how much the general providence, as well as the And so it was from the beginning. When God special interposition, of God has, at all times, led forth his people from Egypt, it was entirely been laboring to fix this important doctrine in our a work of special providence. In the barren bosoms; and to show us how little worldly pow-wilderness they multiplied as the stars in the firer, or worldly talents, or worldly influence of any kind, have availed to propagate or uphold religion; to introduce it into the heart, or to keep it there. The brightest and most heroic times for the church have generally been those of persecution; the darkest and most disgraceful, those in which the arm of secular power has thrust forward its impotent and unhallowed efforts in her behalf, and compelled mankind to become proselytes to the faith.

What have the wealth, or the splendor, or the talents, of the world ever accomplished in favor of genuine religion? or what are they accomplishing at this moment? If we turn to the magnificent biographies of those who are already

mament for number; their clothes waxed not old upon them, nor were their shoes worn out by journeying: the heavens rained down food, and the flinty rock poured forth water. But chiefly was the great principle manifested, that "the kingdom of God is not of this world," when they were on the point of entering the land of Canaan, and of measuring their strength with that fearful enemy, whose name alone had cowed the hearts of their fathers only forty years before, from the false representations that they were giants in stature, (Num. xiii. 28,) and defended by towns whose walls reached up to the heavens. (Deut. i. 28.) The whole passage, as related in the book of Joshua, is full of simplici

only armor we are to display! All human means must be resorted to that lie within our reach, suggested by prudence, and sanctified by prayer. Yet even these are to be but auxilia

ty and a majesty unrivalled in any other volume, and rarely equalled in the Bible itself. In the face of this formidable people, who aware of their approach, and in league with every adjoining power, were drawn up in a line of de-ries, and kept in the back-ground, while, as to fence, they were commanded to march forward to the banks of the wide and impetuous Jordan, at that time overflowing its sides, from the vernal floods of the neighboring mountains, and to cross the river. The whole army was instantly in motion; prepared, at all hazards, to obey the call, though they had neither rafts, nor pontoons, nor any other visible means of coping with the stream. It was the voice of Jehovah that gave the word; and in the power of Jehovah they put their trust. They were nobly resolved to do their utmost, and to leave the issue in the hands of the God of Israel. It was enough; and those who act thus are always safe.

The army of Israel, and the multitudes of the entire nation who were with them, their wives, and their little ones, being thus prepared, and full of expectation, were suddenly ordered to halt. And to show how little God stands in need of human power and human prowess, and that the means of carrying forward his kingdom are not of this world, the ark by itself is commanded to take the lead, sustained on the shoulders of a few unarmed Levites alone, while the army and the people are forbidden to approach it within the distance of half a mile. In this manner marched forward the procession; the unarmed ark protecting the men of war, instead of the men of war protecting the unarmed ark. In this manner was it that the waters of Jordan fled, (Psalm cxiv. 5.) like lambs, at the presence of the divine symbol; and the hostile country on the other side of its banks was invaded, and fell prostrate before its mighty and irresistible influence.

What a consolation does this subject offer to every missionary undertaking of the present day, founded upon just principles, and simply actuated by a humble but zealous endeavor to extend the boundaries of that kingdom which is not of this world! How fully doth it open to us the only path in which we are to tread, and the

the world, its wealth and its talents are but little needed, and its pomps and its dominion are the worst allies that we can engage on our behalf. Without the ark of the Lord,-"the Lord of all the earth," (Josh. iii. 13:)-no enterprise can be successful; but let this go before us, and success is certain, whatever difficulties may obstruct our way. "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee." (Isa. xliii. 2.) "Who art thou, O great mountain?-before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain." (Zech. iv. 7.) "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." (Zech. iv.6.)

MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE.

AFRICA.

Col. Denham, who was formerly associated with capt. Clapperton in travels and researches in the interior of Africa, and who, early in the last year, was appointed governor of the British colony at Sierra Leone, died in that colony early in June last, about one month after entering on the duties of this office. Col. Denham is the fourth governor who has died in that colony since the beginning of the year 1824.

DOMESTIC.

African Colonization.-The Managers of the American Colonization Society state that there are now ready to depart for the colony at Liberia 400 free colored people, and that the owners of 200 slaves have signified their willingness to release them, so soon as means can be provided for their removal to the colony. Most of these owners will bear a part, and some the whole of the expense of such removal. African Repository.

Rev. C. S. Stewart.-Mr. Stewart, late missionary of the American Board, at the Sandwich Islands, has been appointed chaplain of the United States sloop of war, Vincennes, now in the Pacific, and to visit those Islands. As the vessel, to which Mr. Stewart is to be attached, is expected to remain sometime at the Islands, he will be commissioned by the Board to perform an agency in respect to the mission there. Mr. S. will sail in the Guerriere.

American Board of Missions.

CHEROKEE MISSION.

ON Tuesday, the 16th ult. the Rev. John Thompson, of Johnstown, N. Y., Mrs. Ruth B. Thompson, of Shoreham, Vt., his wife, and Miss Catharine Fuller, of Fitchburg, Mass., embarked at New York, for Charleston, S. C., to join the mission in the Cherokee nation. Mr. Thompson received his theological education at the Princeton Seminary, and was ordained by the Presbytery of Albany.

FORMATION OF ASSOCIATIONS.

NEW YORK. Oneida co. Camden. Gent. and Lad. Asso. Rev. Herman Norton, Pres., Dea. B. Pond, V. Pres., Mr. Bettys, Sec., Dea. Erastus Upson, Treas. 15 coll.

Sangerfield. Gent. and Lad. Asso. Rev. John D. Pierce, Pres., John F. Smith, Sec., Ephraim Smith, Treas. 2 coll. Female collectors to be appointed subsequently.

PENNSYLVANIA. Cumberland co. Newville. Gent. and Lad. Asso. Rev. Alexander Sharp, Pres., James Laughlin, V. Pres., John Johnson, Sec., J. Moore, Treas. 6 coll. The appointment of collectors at this place was noticed in the number for December.

Donations,

From November 16th, to December 15th, inclusive.

[Various and important considerations require that, while all donations to the Board are acknowledged with such particularity as to furnish complete vouchers to contributors, the form and manner of printing should be such, as not to encroach unnecessarily upon the pages of this work. Hence, a small type is used, abbreviations are common, titles are omitted, (except the customary designation of clergymen,) and particular descriptions of donations are for the most part excluded.]

I. AUXILIARY SOCIETIES.
Cheshire co. N. H. C. H. Jaquith, Tr.
Keene, Of sums fr. gent. and la.

asso. ackn. in M. Herald for
Dec., $50 constitute the Rev.Z.
S. BARSTOW an Honorary Mem-
ber of the Board.

Nelson, Gent.
Roxbury, A friend,
Columbia co. N. Y. I. Platt, Tr.
Ghent,
Hudson,
New Lebanon,

29 00

3 00 32 00

17 00

69 20

19 13

15 50-120 83

THE number of this work for January contained a survey of the missions under the direction of the American Board of Foreign Missions. A brief view of the missions under the direction of other Societies in the United States will be given in this number.