Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-05-01
FOR THE SPECTATOR
DOMESTIC MISSIONS.


rehort Of the Missionary Society Of
Connecticut.
"The lapse of another year has
brought again the period, when the trus-
tees of the Missionary Society of Con-
nccticut are to present to the christian
public, summary statement of their
proceedings, and of missionary labors,
performed under their direction. Upon
the discharge of this duty, they desire to
enter, with a grateful recollection of the
smiles OF heaven upon themselves, and
with thankful acknowledgment of the
success which the great head of the,
church has been pleased to give mis-
slonary operations. Every revolving
year has elucidated, with brighter evil
dence, the utility of missionary efforts;
and added new trophies of divine grace,
to the rising kingdom of the Redeemer.
In the good work of spreading the gospel
among the destitute, of establishing
churches, and of comforting the people
OF God, throughout the widely extended
frontiers of the United States, the trus-
tees believe the labors of the missona-
ANo3 "ioiii tiiNJ uaNS OSClj CDdOlCd W
send into the field, have held promi-
nent place, and been crowned with sig
nal blessings. During the past year,
about 40 missionaries have been employ
ed, more or less, in the service of the
Society,""
Our limits will not permit us to give
detail of the successful labors of these
4, l. IL
die individuals, not to promote the in
terests OF sect or party; but to extend
the boundaries of that kingdom, which
consists OF peace and righteousness +: la
bors too, which we learn, from the above
mentioned report, have been very &C
cep,able to the people among whom they
have been performed. Vermont, New
York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky,
Indiana,. Illinois, and Missouri, have all
shared, though not in equal degrees, in
these benevolent operations. Is mis-
sionaries have labored more or less, in
Ohio, and only in Kentucky.-The
language of the report with respect to
the first of these is too expressive to be
omitted.
"The annqs amount Of good, which
may be constituted as he result of mis-
sionary labSrs in this field, (Ohio) it is
believed iS such as must gladden. the
hearts Of all the friends of Zion to whom
it may be known. Many Aourishing
churches are already established in the
faith and order of the gospel. The har-
mony OF sentiment, and Of efforts, which
prevails among the missionaries seems
to promise the most desirable conse-
quences to that extended and increasing
population"
After mentioning the field occupied
by each missionary, the report pro-
ceeds in the following animated strain 81
The amount of labor, which has been
performed, can seal cely be estimated.
Were ii expedienr to specify the dis
lance which has been travelled by the
missionaries, in the discharge of their
duties; The number of sermons they
have preached the meetings for pray
err, and religious conference they have
attended; the schools and families they
have visited; the number of believers
they have received into the family Of
Christ; the churches they have orga-
nized; the multiplied instances in which
the sacramcnts Of the gospel have been
administered; the divisions in churches
they have healed; the sick and afflicted
they have cohsoled the dying they have
commended to divine mercy; the null
titude of saints they have conferred; the
number of sinners they have instructed
andjguided to the Saviour; the moral in
huence they have spread around them in
every direction, increasing the peace,
harmony and temporal prosperity of an
extended community. Such catalogue
would swell the amount of missionary
labor, beyond all ordinary conception.
The good, which may result from such
labors is literally unreasonable.
SIN view therefore ofthe service which
has been performed, the year past, for
the Missionary Society of Connecticut,
the trustees would congratulate the
friends of Zion, and unite with them, to
ascribe all the glory to {" Him who walk
eth in the midst of the seven golden can
dlesticks, and who holdeth the seven
stars in his right hand"
sBut the work which has been accom-
plished, great as it PROFESSIONALLY is, is
small compared with what remains to be
done.-The light, which has been pour
cd upon the frontier settlement of the ma
ton among its other good effects, has
served to make the existing moral dark
Eass still more visible. Who, that has
a heart susceptible of benevolence, can
look unon this desolatiOn without feeling