"I asked for a book, and Williamu look-tended the schools and the house of prayer. ed at me and said, 'Are you come for a I used sometimes to pray, but my heart book? Why, I know you to be a very was the same as formerly. I did not hate wicked boy, and besides you cannot read; all evil. I did not desire Jesus with all how is it that you are come to beg a book?' my heart." I then told him all he had said was true. I was a very wicked boy, but from what I had heard that morning, I was full of fear because of my great sins, and now desired to learn, and would try to cast off my former habits."

American Baptist Board of Foreign Missions.

fidelity of their brethren too highly? What have we done? The amount of our annual contributions, including what has been given to this object through the Bible Society, will not much exceed $60,000. Supposing the number of our communicants to be 600,000, a contribution of $60,000 would be equal to ten cents for each member. Are we told that one half of this number are poor? We admit it. We will suppose that their condition is not better than that of the majority of those who are supported in the alms-houses of New England, (which is not the case,) and no man will deny the ability of this class even, to raise for the procurement of any object which they really desired, a single dime, in the space of a twelve-month, or even three times that amount. But let us cast off this class, the one half, 300,000,* and see what we can make of the remainder.

they are meeting? We are almost afraid to attempt to describe these things, lest we should do it irreverently, or with too little humiliation and tenderness of feeling. Has the Lord Jesus Christ any claim upon us? Can that claim be estimated in dollars and cents? Are the offerings which we make to the glorious Redeemer, of less value than those which the heathen make to demons, with the hope of so appeasing them as to escape from some temporary evils, which they vainly suppose these imaginary beings have the power of inflicting upon them?

Lest we do an injustice, let it be stated that there are many among us who have come up to a very high standard of liberality in their contributions for foreign missions. Let not the admission, however, displace from our minds the fact, that we have three hundred thousand members of competent means, who are each on an average, giving annually for the accomplishment of so magnificent a design as that of

cents.

The reader need have no fears that we are going to deceive ourselves by a mathe-evangelizing the world, less than twenty matical deduction,-that, because we find The question before us is-if it be by a calculation in figures, based upon a allowable to ask if that be true which every given estimate, that there is ability to send one knows to be false-have we reached the gospel to the heathen, that, therefore, the maximum of our ability? The fact the heathen will be evangelized. The ob- that a few are seen so far in advance of all ject of our inquiry is, is it just and right the rest, affords some evidence on this point. for us to set ourselves at work in good earnest to induce the people in this Christian and highly favored land to convey the blessings of salvation to the perishing heathen? We have in our churches 300,000 communicants who are in the condition, at least, of good livers,-who are annually accumulating property; and is it not probable, that the Lord Jesus Christ has a claim upon them, on account of the heathen, infinitely greater than that which

* If the division which we have now made, by drawing an imaginary line, could actually take place, and the parties be accurately surveyed, some very curious facts would, no doubt, be developed. It might be found that the poor, whom we have cast off as being of no account, were actually sustaining the greater share of this labor-that the mites of poor widows even, constituted a very considerable sum in the general aggregate collected for missionary purposes.

To exhibit this subject in a strong point of view, we should need to know the actual income of each individual, the amount of his expenditure, and the various items for which expenses are incurred. These facts, however, are in the possession of no one; and we have no adequate means of obtaining even an approximate view of them. The annual expenses of each individual in the class of persons of whom we are now speaking, is doubtless equal, on an average, to $200 per annum. Admitting, then, that their contributions for missions are twenty cents each, it would appear that a thonsandth part of their expenses is for this object, which places the claim of the heathen upon us at a pretty low point.

Nothing is more true than that a false method of reasoning is generally adopted upon the subject of Christian benevolence. The too common custom is to satisfy every

actual and even imaginary want, before we come to the question of giving. You take up the inquiries, what is spent in pleasure, what for the gratification of appetite, &c., and the amount, compared with that expended in doing good, is enormous.

Estimating the cost of distilled spirits, consumed in the United States, at twentyfive cents per gallon, the amount expended for this article, in 1839, was ten millions two hundred and sixty-six thousand three hundred and thirty-three dollars, at an average expense, for each individual, of sixtysix cents and six mills. Now the individuals of whom we are speaking, either use this article or they do not. If they use it as a beverage, their condition would be improved by discontinuing it, and by paying the amount thus expended with positive injury to themselves, for the support of foreign missions; and if they do not use it, they can certainly afford to pay to this object what others can pay for a needless thing. If 300,000 contribute each sixty cents, it gives $180,000.

The annual cost of coffee consumed in the United States, estimating the cost of the article at 9 7-10 cents per pound, is $7,763,462, which is equal to an average cost to each person of 45 cents.

tain a serious loss; that there was in their hands at the time of the failure, $7,347, subject to the order of our missionaries in Asia. What portion of this sum will be recovered, is uncertain. The Board have been informed that creditors of such houses as have transacted this kind of commission, have sometimes allowed the whole amount to be paid; and they have taken measures to secure this result if possible.

The Board is liable to lose the greater part of this sum, and for the time being, the whole amount is unavailable to our missionaries. But for the liberality of several English gentlemen at Calcutta and in other places, where our missionaries are known and the credit of the Board is established, our brethren must have suffered a very great inconvenience.

This loss is the more painfully felt, at this time, from the fact that the Board were beginning to adopt measures for re-inforcing several of the missionary stations by sending out additional missionaries. How far their designs may be interrupted by this loss, cannot now be determined. There has been of late a manifest increase in the contributions to the funds; and it is hoped that the knowledge of this loss will only call forth a more liberal expression of interest in behalf of the heathen. Shall Our limits do not allow us to pursue this loss fall on ourselves or on the heathese inquiries any farther at this time. then, who are dependent on us for the Our object has been to make it appear that bread of life? The English Baptist Miswe are able to double and treble our con- sionary Society in 1812, when much weaktributions for foreign missions, and that er than we are, lost by the burning of their the neglecting to do so, argues a criminal printing office at Serampore, about $50,000 indifference to the subject. To correct-which was more than supplied within a this great evil, we must begin individually, single year, by the extra contributions of just as Christianity makes its aggressions the friends of missions. This event is upon human society; and this process must strictly providential. It has occurred from go on until the whole mass becomes affect- no want of care or economy on the part of ed. In fact, this is Christianity in one of the Board. It is an event that can rarely its bearings. Let us begin, and let the occur if the same care he exercised and question be, What do I owe unto my yet its possibility is proved by the sad Lord? reality.

FAILURE OF AGENTS IN CALCUTTA. At a recent meeting of the Board, the Treasurer reported that by the late failure of the house of Boyde & Co., our agents in Calcutta, the Board is liable to sus

The Board has now carried on its operations in different and remote parts of the world for nearly thirty years, during which time, its losses have been so few and unimportant, that they scarcely deserve to be mentioned. Indeed the Board feel that

they have abundant occasion to acknowledge the special providence of God in their behalf.

THE FARMERS

THEIR OFFERINGS.

An increase of interest in our missionary affairs is becoming obvious; it is not the result of a momentary excitement, awakened by some adventitious circumstances, but it arises, obviously, from a deep, settled conviction of duty. The yeomanry are coming with their offerings, a class who do not move so soon as some others, but when they have made up their minds, the thing is certain. We recently had occasion to speak of the liberality of Mr. Follet, of Vermont. The treasurer reports in the present number of the Magazine, the receipt of $500 from Mr. Robert Francis of Weathersfield, Ct. Mr. Francis, too, is a farmer, who has accumulated his property by his own industry, and though now an old man, he still eats his bread by

being either too poor to contribute any thing, or as being too inefficiently managed to do any thing for the benevolent objects of the day. And then let us inquire how much

ARE COMING WITH the remaining 2000 might be supposed to contribute annually, provided the subject was properly brought before them. Is there a school among this remaining 2000, which could not contribute $3,00 a year. This would be, for a school of 25 scholars, only one cent a month for each pupil. But the sum of all the schools, at that rate, would be $6000, a tenth of all that is now raised for Foreign Missions by the Baptists in this country. But the greater number of the schools could easily give $12,00 in a year, which, in all, would amount to $24,000. There are many schools which could contribute 20, 80, 50, and even 100, or more. If we mistake not, there is one school, which, the last year, has raised for Foreign Missions about $120. Hitherto, however, but little has been done for Foreign Missions by Sabbath schools. The whole amount, it is believed, does not exceed $500, or $600, yearly.

the sweat of his brow.

JUVENILE FOREIGN MISSIONARY

SOCIETIES.

2. Another reason for enlisting the feel

To Superintendents and Teachers of Sabbath ings and co-operation of the young in be

Schools. BRETHREN, Permit me to call your attention to the claims of the missionary cause on the youth and children under your religious instruction. One of the many efforts now making to promote missionary feeling and action in this country, is that of enlisting the sympathies of Sabbath school scholars in behalf of the heathen.

There are a few very plain reasons for directing the attention of the young to this subject, and for calling in their aid.

1. For the heathen's sake. The sum that may be contributed by them for the support of missions to pagan lands, is by no means trifling. It is not known how many Baptist Sabbath schools there are in America; but they are believed to be not less than 3000. This is on the supposition that one half of the Baptist churches in this country have attached to them a Sabbath school. It is hoped a greater proportion have them. But from the 3000, deduct 1000, as

half of Foreign Missions, is, that it will exert a good moral influence on the youthful contributors themselves. The habit of contributing, at stated periods, in aid of the Missions, would induce frequent little acts of economy and self-denial, whose silent influence would aid in the formation of a good character-the object of all education.

It would afford to the Teachers and Superintendents the means of greater variety and interest in their weekly instruction, by missionary anecdotes, by allusions to pagan character and customs. The monotony of Sabbath schools is one of their present obstacles to success.

The missionary information given, would cultivate a compassionate spirit; and the practice of contributing would form the habit of doing good. It is difficult to induce an old man, who was not accustomed in early life to deeds of charity, to give liberally to any object. This early formation of a habit of benevolence is of incalculable