Maine Conference. those truths which unfold, illustrate and defend the willingness of Almighty God to save sinners by grace, through faith in the Lord Jesus, from all their sinsto sanctify them by the blood of the Everlasting Covenant, and to make them partakers of His glory. And these doctrines are held and taught by the Arminians and by the Methodists. : cording to the Scriptures, are regeneration by the Holy Spirit, as arising from the hereditary corruption of human nature, justification by faith in the atoning efficacy of Christ's blood, they teach nothing more than what is acknowledged and taught by their brethren of other denominations and must those brethren be proscribed as heretics, because they demur at the chilling doctrine of an unconditional reprobation! This is that prominent and absurd feature of the system at which we look with so much incredulity, and not those heart-cheering truths which proclaim the "unsearchable riches of Christ" in the redemption and salvation of a lost This being the fact, we would ask, by what justifiable reason can any man insinuate that the "doctrines of grace" are only promulgated by those men generally denominated Calvinists? In teaching the doctrine of the vicarious sacrifice of Christ, the necessity of world. RELIGIOUS AND MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE, MAINE CONFERENCE. OUR readers will recollect that this conference was set off from the New England conference last year. It consists of three districts, and was held at Gardner, July 7, 1825. There were no preachers admitted on trial; but there were four ordained deacons, three returned supernumerary, and one superannuated. Numbers in society this year, last year, . 6,960 494 Increase this year, Stations of the Preachers. -Elisha Streeter, David Copeland. Readfield--Benjamin Burnham, Caleb Fogg. Durham-True Page, Silas Frink. Winthrop KENNEBECK DISTRICT.-Eleazer Wells, P. E. Hallowell-Stephen Lovell, Caleb D. Rogers. Fairfield-Philip Munger. Industry-Ezekiel Robinson. Norridg wock-Abraham Halway. Exeter-Otis Williams. Unity-Thomas Smith. Vassalborough-Henry True, David Hutchinson. Pittston-Peter Burgess. BristolBenjamin Jones. Georgetown-William S. Douglass. Bath-Wilder Mack. PENOBSCOT DISTRICT.-Joshua Hall, P. E. Hampden-Heman Nickerson. Belfast-Ezra Kellogg. Thomaston--Sullivan Bray. Union-David Stimson. Vinalhaven-Jesse Stone. Orrington-Joshua Nye. Penobscot-John Lewis. Columbia-David Richards. Dennysville-Gorham Greeley, elect. St. Croix--Josiah Eaton. Ebenezer F. Newell, Conference Missionary. Prescatteques Mission-Oliver Beale. HIGHLAND MISSION. Letter from the Rev. LABAN CLARK to the Editors, dated July 27, 1825. On the 22d and 23d, at a quarterly meeting in the Highland mission, I found our missionary, Rev. J. B. Matthias, in good spirits; and the work of God is still progressing in the mountains. I herewith present you with his quarterly report, which was made out previous to the quarterly meeting. Our meeting was solemn, and, I trust, profitable. There were many in our love-feast who never saw one before; and the young converts bore a good testimony of the gracious work of God upon their hearts. Before the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered, nine men, whom I judge were heads of families, came forward for baptism; and being asked if they had any choice as to the mode, they answered they were satisfied with pouring. Here I took occasion to make some remarks in relation to the mode of baptism. I observed it was indifferent whether we were baptized by immersion, pouring, or sprinkling, inasmuch as the Scriptures said nothing expressly concerning the mode, only that we should be baptized with water; that those who plead for immersion as the only mode, draw their proof from such passages as describe their "going down into the water," their "coming up out of the water," and the Apostles as baptizing where there was much water." But in these passages there is no positive proof of immersion; for their going down into the water, &c., was only a circumstance which attended their baptism, but made no part of their baptism; otherwise they must prove that not only the subject was immersed, but also the administrator, at the same time-for it is expressly said of Philip and the eunuch, that they both went down into the water, and they both came up out of the water; and therefore the most that can be claimed from such texts of Scripture, in favour of immersion, is inference or presumption. Then, admitting that, out of one hundred cases, we have such inferential proof or a plausible probabi lity that ninety and nine were immersed, and one case where the same inferential proof and plausible probability is found in favour of some other mode, or that in that one case immersion could not be practised, the argument for immersion only is overthrown. I then referred them to the case of the jailer, and challenged the ingenuity of man to make out fairly a plausible probability that he could have been immersed. It was done at midnight—in the jail. That it was done in the jail is certain, for the apostles would not go out until the magistrate "came and fetched them out;" and that there should be a fount suitable for baptizing in a heathen jail, where they had shut up the apostles for preaching, is an absurdity too palpable to be believed. I observed that some make a claim of express proof for immersion in the word baptism; and, to give plausibility to their claim, they take shelter under the Greek term, which I assured them (as I had a right to know) was no more express for one mode only than our English word is; unless they argue, as some have done, that the lexicons give three definitions to the word, and that their first definition is immersion, and therefore it means immersion only, i. e. that the other two definitions mean nothing. When they say immersion is valid baptism, we have no disagreement with them; but when they say nothing else is baptism, we think it savours too much of popish infallibility, and saying we reason right, and every body else wrong. While making the above remarks there was the deepest attention, and through the whole of our administra tion great solemnity and much good feeling were manifested. I have no doubt but much good will result from our meeting. Brother Matthias carries the missionary fire, and God is giving him souls as the reward of his labours.-Yours in Christ Jesus, L. CLARK. MOHAWK MISSION-UPPER CANADA. CASE to the Editors, dated July 22, 1825. The Indian mission is beyond all calculation prosperous. It is contempla ANNUAL MEETING OF THE WESLEYAN METHODIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY. THE sermons before the society were preached by the Rev. Daniel M'Allum, M. D., on Thursday evening, April 28, at the City-Road chapel; by the Rev. Adam Clarke, LL. D., on Friday forenoon, April 29, at Great Queen-street chapel; and by the Rev. Robert Newton, president of the conference, on Friday evening, at Hinde-street chapel. Sermons were also preached, and collections made in behalf of the missions, in all the Wesleyan chapels in London and its immediate vicinity, on Sunday, May 1. The attendance of persons at the annual meeting was, as usual, very numerous, and on no former occasion was a more lively interest in its proceedings manifested. The meeting was opened with singing and prayer, after which Joseph Butterworth, Esq., M. P., was called to the chair. THE chairman said-"On this very solemn occasion, my Christian friends, when we are assembled for the purpose of contributing our endeavours to spread the tidings of salvation throughout the earth, it certainly becomes us to cultivate a spirit of prayer and of praise; and especially when we consider the blessings we enjoy as a nation and as individuals, and the light of the gospel with which we have been so long and so largely favoured, and contrast it with the gross darkness which prevails over so large a part of the world. "We shall, no doubt, as we are assembled to hear the report of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, find that we have abundant reason to rejoice in the illumination of many of those who formerly sat in darkness in the remote parts of the earth; and shall receive gratifying accounts of the success which Almighty God has Vouchsafed to the labours of his servants abroad, who are connected with this society. But as the earth is more and more explored, as we trace more extensively the wildernesses of the African continent, of South America, and other distant regions of the earth, we shall still see reason to lament the ignorance and wickedness of our fel VOL. VIII. September, 1825. low creatures, and be called to make greater exertions. 1 shall not anticipate the details of the report which will be read, and fully explain the proceedings of the society. But with respect to the exertions of our friends at home, we have the satisfaction to find their endeavours have not slackened, but that the funds have increased between two and three thousand pounds in the course of the year, independent of the munificent benefaction of ten thousand pounds from an individual. But while we have these reasons of triumph and comfort, sources of mourning and regret have been opened by the loss of several friends, who have departed this life during the last year.One venerable man, the Rev. Walter Griffith, who was with us on this platform at the last anniversary, and whose labours were so unwearied, and constant, and eminent, particularly in the missionary cause, is now reaping the reward of his labours. But he finished his course, as such a life as his might lead us to expect, in peace and joy.Some of us have also been the subjects of affliction during the past year; but though the Lord has chastened and corrected us, he has not given us over to death, and I trust our spared lives will be dedicated to his glory. We hat 46 some hopes of seeing our excellent friend, Mr. Thompson, of Hull, formerly one of the treasurers of the society, present with us to-day; but increasing years and infirmities have prevented him. The meeting will, however, hear a letter from him, which has been addressed to one of the secretaries. I will not take up more of your time than to make one remark, that in no period in our country's history has she enjoyed so much religious liberty, and so many religious privileges; and it therefore becomes us to improve the opportunities we have of spreading the gospel throughout the earth. If we neglect them, and suffer our zeal for extending the influence of the blessed gospel, the source of all our best enjoyments and richest hopes, to grow cold, God may take those privileges and blessings from us which we now in such abundance enjoy. The day is the time to work, lest the night overtake us, when no man can work." The following is the letter from Mr. Thompson : “ Cottingham, near Hull, 30th March, 1825. "My dear Sir-It would give me great pleasure to see my friends in London once more before I meet them in the kingdom of our Father, but my threescore years and ten are run out, and nearly my strength also, and I am unable to travel more than a few miles from home without much suffering of various kinds. "I rejoice, however, that, although God is calling the old men to give an account of their stewardship, he is raising up a blessed company of more than double the number of young men, to extend the bounds of his government; and I trust that the Methodist missionaries will increase as they have increased, and that God will spread them among the people in far coun tries. "I have sometimes thought that, after a few years, the zeal and activity of some of the missionary societies may decrease: but I wish to reject all such disbelieving anticipations; and I am confident that, so long as the power of godliness is experienced among the Methodists, so long will they feel the infinite value of souls, and so long will their exertions be continued to save them. There is, indeed, a gracious pledge of this in the fulfilment of the promise, which many thousands of persons in England have experienced, that while they have attended missionary meetings, and have united in the means for watering others, their own souls have been abundantly watered ; and whatever may be the success of the missionaries abroad, it is certain that a great blessing has attended missionary meetings at home. "I beg my affectionate remembrances to the preachers and the other brethren who are around you; and, although I cannot be present with you on the 2d of May, "God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you. "I am, most truly, My dear Sir, "Your obedient and affectionate servant, THO. THOMPSON, "Rev. G. Morley." Our limits oblige us to select a few only of the addresses which were delivered on this very interesting and delightful occasion. The Rev. Robt. Newton, president lution in a very impressive speechof the conference, moved the first reso"That the report now read be received, and printed under the direction of the cammittee." The Rev. J. Clayton, senior, seconded the resolution, and said "I stand up here to-day under pecus liar circumstances. It is more than half a century since it pleased God to call me out of darkness into marvellous light. At that period the religious world was disturbed by the spirit of acrimonious controversy; but that spirit has now gradually subsided, and instead of a spirit of controversy, a spirit of forbearance and charity is very generally prevailing. In this I feel peculiar satisfaction: the annual and periodical correspondence of Christians has, I perceive, greatly enlarged their hearts, excited their zeal, and promoted their designs, of which this assembly is a full proof; and what does this union of Christians propose? Not the establishment of particular modes of worship, but the conversion, as the report states, of a perishing world to Christ: an object surely of the first importance, you will all agree, to your selves and to your fellow creatures; for he that converteth a sinner from the error of his ways, shall save a soul from death, and hide a multitude of sins I recollect a remark of President Ed The second resolution-"That the success which it pleases Almighty God to continue to the efforts of this and other societies for the diffusion of the knowledge of Christ, in different parts of the world, calls for the grateful thanksgivings of this meeting, and is a powerful motive to persevering and enlarged exertion in the same sacred cause," was moved by the Rev. Dr. Morrison, from China, who, after some general observations, said wards on the revival in New-England: rot; and so it is with the pure, tried he said nothing more affected his con- word of God. Let them go forth gregation than recitals of the preva- with that, and nothing else; and God lence of the work of God in other will continue to bless and prosper them. places; and surely the recitals of the For with respect to displays of mere report you have heard must have human eloquence, if you wrap a sword affected all your minds, and encou- up in silk, you take away its edge; raged you to greater exertions in your and if you paint a diamond, you take work. I am persuaded it is no pre- away its splendour. I therefore pray sumption to expect growing success, God that this may not be the case with and I found my expectation on the them. I most cordially second the moprophecies not yet fulfilled, and espe- tion, and may the Lord establish the cially on the great transaction on work of our hands upon us; yea, the Mount Calvary. Nothing yet has re- work of our hands establish thou it!" sulted from that great event, the sufferings of the Son of God, fully adequate to the dignity of his person, and the infinite atonement he there of fered; the full effects of that sacrifice have not yet been exhibited, as I am persuaded they will be; for he is "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." Our success is, therefore, founded both upon the prophecies of Scripture, and upon the sacrifice of our Lord. I must be allowed to suggest one caution against human dependance. When the ark was depended on, the ark itself was taken in battle; and if your large subscriptions to the fund should alienate your dependance on the Spirit of God, they may likewise fail. I have to entreat you not to withdraw in the least your dependance on this great Agent, whose operation alone can ensure the success of your work. I am happy to see so many young persons present to-day, and to them I would say, You have heard that several excellent and useful persons have been lately removed by death from their posts of usefulness, and thus you have been reminded that the fashion of this world passes away. But what are you but the future hope of the church? Could you hear it said that even the children of pagans are so desirous to receive instruction, and not feel a wish to meet their desires? It is not long since some of you first received the doctrines of Christianity, and were taught the way of salvation; and, your fellow youth in distant lands are waiting to receive the same privilege. We hope, therefore, that the treasurer's account will be swelled by your exertions and contributions in the ensuing year. With respect to your missionaries, I trust they will ever go forth with the pure word of God. It is said of seasoned timber that it will neither warp nor "The Chinese, among whom I spent so large a portion of my life, affirm that the whole world is but one family;' and how much more should we Christians act under the influence of that sentiment! The report read this day, and the meeting of Christians in this place, go far to show that the period is fast approaching when we shall all consider ourselves brethren; and that the necessity of united exertion is great. In former times, some persons who travelled into distant lands affirmed that the people there did not need our spiritual assistance; that they looked cheerful, and were happy, and very innocent. But better acquaintance with them has brought us to a better understanding of the case. Throughout the whole world the prevailing superstitions show that the human mind is restless, unsatisfied, and anxious. Though many of their superstitions are frivolous and foolish, yet most of them are sanguinary and cruel; and they show that men's minds are conscious of transgression. They give the very fruit of their bodies for the sin of their soul. The Indian widow gives up herself to destruction with the body of her husband, and is mingled with his kindred dust. All those baseless notions which exist in the human mind till illuminated by divine revelation, manifestly show that the buman mind is anxiously saying, What shall I do to be saved? It is so in secret, and on |