power to furnish; the wide door of entrance that now stands open to the heathen field, by which access may be had for the most extensive cultivation; the affections of our hearts for the degraded and miserable condition of our fellow men, and the urgent solicitations of the heathen for instruction, and the missionaries for help, call upon us in the loudest, most solemn and pathetic tones, to make haste in this work of love, philanthropy and mercy; and whereas the church of God, in her official capacity, has now organized a Society in this country for the spread of the Redeemer's kingdom in heathen lands which ought to receive the countenance and support of those who have felt objections to voluntary associations; and whereas the Western Foreign Missionary Society of Pittsburgh, which has lately been commenced, meets our highest approbation, being properly founded upon a Presbyterial basis; affords a proper channel for the employment of our exertions and benevolence, and a strong guarantee for order and orthodoxy: "Therefore, Resolved, That we take shame to ourselves for our past apathy in the great work of Foreign Missions, and that henceforth, in the strength of Divine grace, we will be more zealous and liberal to promote the universal spread of pure and undefiled religion throughout the habitable globe. "Resolved, That for the accomplishment of this object, and the concentration of our efforts, a committee be now appointed to draft a Constitution of a Presbyterian Foreign Missionary Association of Philadelphia, to be auxiliary to the Western Foreign Missionary Society of Pittsburgh. 66 Resolved, That we shall, not only subscribe to support the Missionary cause ourselves; but likewise employ our exertions and influence among the circle of our friends and acquaintances to co-operate with us in sustaining the Church in her efforts to comply with the parting and imperative injunction of our ascending Redeemer, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.' [The excellent constitution of this Association will be published in our next num. ber.] At a general meeting of the Association last evening, the following persons were chosen as officers and Managers for one year; viz: President, Joseph P. Engles; Treasu rer, Archibald Robertson; Secretary, Jas. R. Campbell; Managers, John Malseed, William Patterson, John McArthur, J. Y. Wallace, M. D., S. M. Greer, Alexander Symington, Theophilus A. Wylie, Rev. S. W. Crawford, Hugh Alexander, Wm. N. McLeod, — Martien, and Thomas H. Dixon. There were only two of the committees prepared to report at this meeting, and they had obtained subscriptions amounting to more than $300. Of this sum $160 was from Life subscribers. So that, with the blessing of God who can open the hearts of his people, we hope to be able to do something handsome for your Society. I remain your friend and brother in Christ, JAS. R. CAMPBELL, Sec'y. To. REV. E. P. SWIFT. PROCEEDINGS OF PRESBYTERIES. PRESBYTERY OF ERIE. "The Presbytery of Erie, in their sessions at North East, Nov. 13, 1833, cordially approving of the zeal and ability of the Board of the Western Foreign Missionary Society; and feeling, as we hope, in some degree, the spirit of missions, which is the true spirit of the gospel, on motion, Resolved, 1st, That we will support one missionary in the foreign field. 2d. That Rev. Wells Bushnell, a member of this Presbytery, who is now being sent by the Board to the Western Indians, be that missionary, and that the missionary year commence at the meeting of the Synod, Oct. 1833. 3d. That these resolutions be transmitted to the Secretary of the Board by our stated clerk." PRESBYTERY OF WEST TENNESSEE. The following is an extract from the minutes of this Presbytery, held at Franklin, Tenn. April 3, 1834. "On motion, Resolved, That this Presbytery become auxiliary to the Western Foreign Missionary Society. Resolved, That Rev. Duncan Brown, INTERESTING FROM LIBERIA.-At the anniversary of the Youth's Mission Society of the 11th Pres. Church, Philadelphia, about 300 children and youth were present. They were addressed by Rev. John L. Grant, and Rev. J. Leighton Wilson, lately returned from an exploring mission to Africa. Mr. Wilson stated the remarkable fact, that he found in the northern part of Liberia some natives who had invented very lately written syllabic characters, in which he proved that they could read and write their own language, with very little instruction from the inventers of the signs employed. In this invention, as among the Cherokees, Providence has, in a wonderful manner, prepared the way for the gospel to have free course among the people. He stated also, that when he was about to land near Cape Palmas, 300 children ran along the bank, and through the groves, as the vessel passed; and gave them a hearty welcome. Their parents were exceedingly anxious to have them taught; and, in different villages, he could scarcely get away without giving the people some writing to show that he had promised to send them a teacher. Mr. Wilson contrasted the circumstances of the children present with those of the children he had lately seen in Africa; and thus endeavored to excite in them gratitude to God, and a love for foreign missions.--Abridged from the Philadelphian. MISSIONARIES TO ASIA MINOR AND PERSIA.-Rev. John B. Adger and James L. Merrick were lately ordained as missionaries to the heathen, by the Charleston Union Presbytery. Mr. Adger's destination is Asia Minor, perhaps Tarsus, the birth-place of Paul. Mr. Merrick contemplates preaching the gospel in Persiaa country peculiarly interesting as the field where the self-denying, intrepid Martyn fell a victim to his ardent zeal in the cause of Christ. Messrs. Merrick, Adger, Boggs, J. L. Wilson, and Stewart are all, but one, natives of S. Carolina. In this state there are only 60 Presbyterian ministers, and one twelfth part of them have embarked in Foreign Missions. The same ratio would give at least 300 missionaries from the 1 Presbyterian and Congregational churches | Briceland's Cross Roads, by Rev. OBITUARY. DIED, At Louisville, Ky. May 4, 1834, of scarlet fever, in full assurance of faith in the Savior, Rev. George W. Ashbridge, a much esteemed minister of Christ, and an active friend of the Western Foreign Missionary Society. On the 15th of May, of a violent disease supposed to be the cholera, Rev. James L. Marshall, of the Presbytery of Louisville. Being a commissioner to the Gen.Assembly, he was proceeding in a Steam Boat up the Ohio; but was put on shore at Guyandot, where he expired. He was entirely resigned to the will of Heaven, and expressed full confidence of salvation through the merits of the Redeemer. At Moscow Academy, between Lancaster and Philadelphia, April 21st, Rev. Francis A. Latta, one of four clerical sons of Rev. Dr. James Latta of Chestnut Level. After addressing the students with feelings unusually excited, he was affected with apoplexy or paralysis, which, in a few hours, terminated his mortal life. He is spoken of in terms of high respect.-Let all ministers, as well as Christians, zealously work in the service of the Lord "while it is day; for the night cometh when no man can work." E. M'Curdy, Carlisle, Ind. coll. Miss Cruft, 50; Mrs. Cruft, $1; Misses E. B. Lacy, Anne Cruft, (little girls) 35; Jas. Rosecrants 124, Centre cong. Benevolent Society for support of Messrs. Bushnell and Kerr, Columbus, O. coll. Concord cong. O. part of subscription, Concord Church, Allegheny co. Pa. Female Bible Class, towards constituting their pastor, Rev. Alex. Brown, a life member, Eagle creek cong. O. subscription in part, Eaton, O. coll. $3; Mrs. Ward, 25; J. Alexander, 50, Erie Presbytery, by Rev. J. Eaton, Treas. for the support of Rev. W. Bushnell, Waterford cong. $20; Franklin, $5,50. Fairview, $2,50. Mr. P. M. Patton, Big-Sugar Creek, $2; making, Fayette co. J. K. Duncan, by Rev. (see April No.) by Rev. S. Swan, Flats cong. Va. by Rev. J. Hale, Forks of Wheeling and Unity congs. Va. by Rev. J. Hervey, List of Contributions from May 1st, to Georgetown O. part of subscrip 160,00 7,594 10,00 29,00 11,00 9,50 20,67 3,75 30,00 5,00 5,50 41,16 23,56 tion, Indiana church, Ind. coll. $7; Miss M. Alexander, (a little girl) 064; 12,62 7,061 20,00 43,50 Jefferson church, Ind. coll. $10,36; 5,871 10,73 Red Oak, O. bequest of John M'Lean, deceased, by Mr. J. Gilliland, Total $1514,814 100,00 collection in Congregation of Red Oak, · Rehoboth cong. Pa. coll. by Rev. N. Gillet, Salem, Ind- coll. $3,87; children in Dr. Broadley's family, 1,184 Shelbyville, Ky. Mr. W. C. Winlock, Somerville, O. Rev. W. Smith, $3; Mrs. S. H. B. Smith, $2; John B. Smith, (a little boy) 50; Dr. Waugh, $3,00; Miss L. Waugh, (a little girl) 50; John E. White, 50; South Hanover, Ind. Young Men's Miss. Soc. of College, $10; mon. con. $17; Female Aux. W. F. Soc. $5,75; Rev. J. F. Crow, $2; Sewickley cong. Pa. by Rev. A. O. Patterson, Slate Lick and Unity congs. Rev. John Bedick pastor, Payments for the Missionary Chronicle. C. Anthony, Moses Atwood, D. Braden, Ellen Briceland, Mary Christie, William Coles, Isabella Craig, J. H. Duncan, Dr. 7,35 M. Dunlap, Robert Griffin, James Glinden 27,17 ing, John Irland, James Latta, Samuel Lat5,05 ta, G. S. Fullerton, Ozias Littlefield, John M'Cormack, John M'Curdy, Wm. M'Crea1,00 ry, Dan'l Montgomery, Nancy Moorehead, James Morton, John Morris, Eben. Newcomb, J. W. Nicholson, Rebecca L. Patterson, Dr. R. Rodgers, James Sanderson, M. Smith, Wm. Stewart, James Strawbridge, James Wright, Sam'l Archer, Henderson 9,50 Bell, Eliza. Blackburn, John Connelly, Ab ner Dooly, Nat. Foster, Wm. French, J. Gadeby, Isaac Harrison, J. D. Hay, J. H. Hendricks, Col. T. Hendricks, Wm. Hummer, Geo. Hubbard, V. and J. King, John Lagow, W. Lyle, Thos. M'Affee, George Reddick, Isaac Skomp, Hon. D. Stillwell, 30,00 Mat. Sloan, W. Traylor, Dr. J. Waugh, Rev. E. Washburn-50 cents each; equal 5,00 to $28,50. 34,75 FOREIGN MISSIONARY CHRONICLE. VOL. II....No. 4. PITTSBURGH, JULY, 1834. WHOLE NO. 16. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. REQUISITE QUALIFICATIONS OF MISSIONARIES. No. I. Their intellectual powers should be well cultivated and improved by education, and by continual The necessity of Foreign Missions is evident study and reflection. Knowledge is power, and from the deplorable physical, especially moral con- renders its possessors superior to others. And, dition of men in Pagan, Mahometan and Papal though often perverted by "men of corrupt minds, countries. And their utility is obvious from their destitute of the truth," to the accomplishment of efficiency, as means in the hand of the Spirit of much evil, it may be used as an instrument of imgrace, of spreading the knowledge of "the only true mense good, when possessed by men of unfeigned God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent;" convert- piety and benevolence. Missionaries ought to be ing sinners from the crror of their ways, and pro- well acquainted with the orthography and grammoting the general improvement and happiness of matical construction of their own language, and be those who are brought under the benign influence capable of writing a legible hand, or their commuof the Gospel. Therefore, it is the indispensable nications, however excellent in themselves, will not duty of Christians, if possible, to send messengers be deciphered without much trial of the patience of divine mercy to every benighted region of our and consumption of the time of those by whom guilty world. But it is highly important, that they may be read, transcribed or printed. This those who are commissioned to execute this grand may be deemed a matter of small moment, unworenterprise should possess the spirit of Christ and thy of mention; but it deserves some notice; for such qualifications as may fit them for the great without a degree of attention to it on the part of work to which they are called. They have the the writers, it will be difficult to give to the world honor to be "co-workers with God," and should an accurate impression of their journals or letters. "study to approve themselves to him as workmen Literary and scientific knowledge is highly neceswho need not be ashamed." The requisite quali- sary, if not indispensable, in those who are called fications of missionaries, as well as all ministers of in Providence, without miraculous powers, to unthe Gospel, may be learned from the character and dermine the strong pillars of long-established idolhistory of the apostles and evangelists, who were atry and superstition; to answer the objections of authorized by the Lord to "preach repentance and infidels and enemies of evangelical truth, and reremission of sins in his name among all nations." solve the doubts of those who are honestly seeking These may justly be considered the primitive mis- the knowledge of the Gospel; to translate the Scripsionaries of Christ to the Jews and the Gentiles.tures, religious tracts and books into the languages Barnabas, who was sent by the Church at Jerusalem to Antioch, is declared to have been "a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost, and of faith;" and Paul, who, with Barnabas, after prayer and fasting by the Church of Antioch, was sent to the heathen, was distinguished for those excellent qualities which ought to be possessed by all the embassadors of Christ. In prosecuting the subject, I would call the attention of the reader to the following particulars: Missionaries in foreign fields should possess a good portion of natural talent. I do not say, they must have great genius or extraordinary intellectual powers. But they ought to be men of good sense or sound minds, capable of forming correct opinions of things presented to their view, of investigating important subjects, and of acquiring every kind of knowledge that can be applied to good purpose in prosecuting the high objects of their mission. of different nations; to superintend printing presses, prepare and publish elementary school-books and other works necessary for the instruction of the young and more aged in unenlightened countries; to conduct the business of schools, academies or colleges; to write, in a style suitable for publication, reports and narratives of their travels and labors; communicating information of the climate, soil, productions, rivers, mountains, minerals, animals, antiquities, &c., of the countries in which they reside or travel; and of the complexion, customs, manners and languages of the inhabitants; their degraded, depraved and miserable condition; their superstitious rites, horrid cruelties, gross ignorance and abominable idolatries; the means that have been used or are in operation for their instruction, conversion and salvation; and the success of these means by the blessing of Heaven.-The minds of missionaries should be progressively en |