Officers of the Hampshire Missionary Society, appointed at their annual meeting the last Thursday in August, 1805. His Excellency Caleb Strong, | Rev. Richard S. Storrs, Esq. President. Rev. Sam'l Hopkins, D. D. Vice Trustees. Hon. John Hastings, Esq. Rev. Solomon Williams, Ruggles Woodbridge, Esq. Treasurer. Rev. Enoch Hale, Corresponding Secretary. Rev. Payson Williston, Recording Secretary. Standing Committee of the Trus tees. Rev. Joseph Lyman, D. D. Memoir of Mrs. Clarinda Pren-She was peculiarly successful in MRS tice. conciliating the affections of all within the circle of her acquaintance. But her greatest excellence was her attachment to the Redeemer and his glorious gospel. As a Christian she shone with uncommon lustre for several years, and on the bed of death, and at the closing scene, her exercises and prospects were such as few have experienced, or witnessed, in this vale of tears. A more particular account of her life and death, will appear in the sequel. RS. Prentice was a daughter of Mr. James and Mrs. Reliance Kasson, of Bethlem, Connecticut. She was born January 29, 1778, and was married to Mr. Prentice, June 5, 1804. On the 31st of March, 1805, she was delivered of a son, and realized the truth of the declaration, "In sorrow shalt thou bring forth." Her symptoms for some time were not thought to be alarming; but she continued gradually to decline, and her difficulties terminated in a consumption. She died on the 25th of May, after having ex-years before her death. Before perienced severe bodily pain for about seven weeks. Mrs. Prentice's natural powers of mind were much above mediocrity. She had an uncommon taste for human and divine knowledge, which she assiduously cultivated. Her conduct in the various relations which she sustained was highly commendable. She was dutiful, affectionate, benevolent and faithful as a child, sister, neighbor and wife. VOL. VI. No. 5. The following is extracted from a narrative of her father's family which she wrote several she introduces her own character and exercises, she observes upon the tendency and influence of speculative faith, "It is not more certain that night and day succeed each other, than that a wrong faith will influence the life and produce a bad practice. We (meaning herself and the family with which she was connected) practically said unto the Most High, depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of Z thy ways. But glory to God, the habit of disputing with a whose tender mercies are over near relative upon religious suball his works!When we lay jects, I often advocated the doc. in the open field; when there trine of the divine decrees. I was was no eye to pity or arm to not however so firmly on the save; his own arm brought sal-side of God and of religion, as vation. Tho' in a little wrath to be willing to risk my reputahe hid his face from us, yet in tion in the gay circle, by refusgreat mercy he gathered us.ing to comply with solicitations Thou, O Lord, art able to lead to youthful amusements. Acthe blind in a way which they cordingly, when a ball was aphave not known, to bow the most pointed, and I invited among stubborn will, and to soften the others, I interrogated myself as most obdurate heart at the foot follows:-Shall I go and hazard of the cross. God manifested the loss of my soul, and expose designs of mercy toward myself, myself to the pains of eternal the degenerate plant of a strange damnation? or shall I stay at vine. I began to be seriously home, and lose the friendship of impressed about the age of eigh- the world, which has hitherto teen. Conscience thundered, Si- been dearer to me than life? It nai flamed; and I could find no is true, I could wish they would rest day nor night. I flew to se- not dance now; but no one at cret prayer, and often found my present knows my feelings. It frames such as much relieved may be they will vanish soon, my conscience; the relief of and I must endeavor to keep the which was the main design of world on my side; for perhaps attending to religious duties. I shall never gain religion, and Having long been inclined to like Naaman, I said, the Lord think and speak lightly of awa- pardon thy servant in this. Afkenings, and of the concerns of ter I had endeavored to implore the soul, I resolved to conceal the divine blessing, I went to the my feelings as much as possible, ball, and was as gay as the gayand though I imagined I had a est. But an abused conscience new taste for public worship, will not always sleep. I had no and experienced a sort of pleas- sooner returned home and reure in reading the bible; yet tired to rest, than this faithful my ideas were very confused monitor asserted his rights in the and indistinct respecting the way most commanding terms. Inof salvation thro' Jesus Christ, stead of rest and the syren song having received but little instruc-of festivity and joy, I felt an intion in doctrinal points. At supportable weight of guilt, times I felt my heart much op- which appeared to me a sure posed to what are commonly earnest of the wrath of God, and denominated the doctrines of of the worm that never dies. Begrace; but hearing a sermon ing unable to conceal my emowhich so clearly exhibited the tions from my sister, who slept propriety of God's being a sove- with me, and who had been parreign, and finding my reason in taking of the same amusement, such a good measure convinced, she enquired after the cause and I resolved never more openly to whether I was sick. I put her oppose the doctrine. Being in off with as light answer, and with myself, as it respected serious impressions, I told her that I had been for a considerable time unusually hardened; that I had much reason to fear I had so slighted the invitations of the gospel, and grieved the Spirit of God; that I was left to be filled with my own devices; that like Ephraim of old, I was joined to idols, and that the Lord had said, let her alone. Upon this, she said she believed she had a book which would suit my case, which was Doddridge's Rise and Pro care concealed my real feelings. I much of the same stamp with Not long after this, I began to lose my serious impressions, and found that I could go counter to the dictates of conscience with less pain than formerly. At times however, I was alarmed at my stupidity, and felt the most poignant distress upon hearing of some remarkable providence or awakening sermon. The world never performed agreeably to its promises, and as to a future world, the prospect was horrible and gloomy; a fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation. Still I was in pur-gress of Religion in the Soul. suit of happiness; and my ardor did not abate, but took fresh courage at disappointment. I resolved upon a more steady and useful line of conduct; and became very economical of my time, improving as much of it in reading and writing as possible. That I might lay a better foundation for improvement, I spent several months at a respectable boarding school in a neighboring parish, where I endeavored to be fashionably religious, which in effect is to possess no religion at all. After this I was engaged in school-keeping and domestic duties, not fully persuad-partition broken down, and that ed of the truth of the divine declaration, that "the friendship of the world is enmity with God. "But hearing of awakenings in a number of the towns adjacent, I became solicitous with regard to myself, while I found I was trifling upon the brink of eternal ruin. I was much affected with accounts from abroad, and felt a most earnest desire that the same spirit of enquiry might become prevalent in my native place.On a certain occasion, while conversing with a woman, who was It was indeed a welcome messenger. It spake directly to the conscience, and left me wholly without excuse. The justice of God appeared in a new and unusually striking point of light. I saw a beauty in this divine attribute, that God would be for ever glorious, and that the holy inhabitants of heaven might well shout alleluiah, if I were sentenced to eternal damnation. Although I had long found that my sins had made a separating wall between God and my own soul, and I could neither pray nor weep; yet now I found the I could enter in by the door into the sheepfold, saying, whose joy is like unto my joy, for it is the joy of penitence. Like Mary, I found no luxury like that of washing the feet of Jesus with tears, and wiping them with the hairs of my head. I was una ble to stipulate any conditions for I was absolutely insolvent, and like the prodigal son, could only plead to be admitted into the family as an hired servant. I resolved by the assisting grace of God, let others do what they would, I would serve the Lord. ; Christ appeared the chief among ten thousands and altogether lovely. The plan of redemption appeared glorious indeed,-worthy the triune God. I had new views with regard to the holy bible. It came home fraught with internal evidence of its divinity and energetic power upon the heart. I no longer needed the aid of philosophy or the powers of eloquence to recommend it; for I had received "the white star, and in the star a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." with him upon religious topics! "I was left to reflect with shame upon my past conduct, in treating religion, the one thing excel in the Christian race. You needful, with such neglect. I must expect to be watched, and was much affected with this and it is now of double importance similar texts of scripture:- how you behave yourself, before "Whosoever shall be ashamed your former companions. Have of me and of my words, in this you counted the cost of making adulterous and sinful generation, a public profession?" To which of him also shall the Son of man I replied, I desire to take the be ashamed, when he cometh in profession upon me, and think I the glory of his Father with the am willing to suffer whatever holy angels." I was convinced may come in consequence. But that I had long loved the praise I have renounced all confidence of men more than the praise of in myself; and unless the Lord God; but now after having rc-work in me both to will and to peatedly and with the utmost se- do, I shall most surely wound riousness and sincerity of my the holy cause. It is by the soul, dedicated myself to God, I grace of God, I am what I am. resolved, through assisting grace I think I know in whom I have and with the consent of the believed, and that he is able to church, to make a public pro- keep that which I have commitfession of religion. I esteemed ted to him against that day. On it not only a duty, but a pleasure being told that I must make one far surpassing any thing I had sacrifice, viz. that of attending ever experienced in the circles balls; I replied, that I judged of the gay. As conferences were from my present feelings it attended weekly at the meeting- would be no sacrifice at all, and house, I went one day with a res- that I had never found it so." olution to converse with my spiritual guide before I returned. And how welcome was an invitation from him to any one who had an inclination to converse Soon after this, she united with the church of Christ in Bethlem; and her subsequent con. versation and daily walk evinced the sincerity of the profession she had made. The wonders of the beauty and excellence of that redeeming love, and the glories" charity which seeketh not her own." The poor, especially those of Christ's flock, can testify to the Christian liberality with which she was actuated. She was employed in teaching school for several successive seasons, after she professed religion, and took unwearied pains to instil just principles into the tender minds of her pupils. She made it a constant practice for several seasons to pray with them daily, and to teach them the importance of remembering their Creator in early life. Deep worth of time, she endeavored to spend it in such a manner as to be enabled to give up her fi of sovereign grace furnished the subject of her most delightful contemplations, and a subject upon which she conversed with warm and rapturous emotions. Whilst she was teaching a school in her native town, the season in which she obtained a hope, she boarded a while in a family where the sweets of religion had never been experienced; where even the form of godliness was discarded, and where the head of the family not only appeared a stranger to vital piety, but even warmly opposed to its essence.ly impressed with a sense of the But her conversation and heavenly demeanor soon had a powerful effect upon him. They were the means which provi-nal account with joy. She was dence employed to open his distinguished for the strictest eyes. He became a subject of economy, and a considerable part deep conviction, and after long of what she procured by schooland painful struggling, he was keeping and other means, was hopefully brought out of dark-cheerfully devoted to charitable ness into God's marvellous light. He set up family prayer, and soon after united with the church. It is believed that God used her as an instrument of effecting a lasting change in several others. She was ex-ber, that in the 12th No. of the tremely fond of attending reli- 3d Vol. of the Connecticut Evangious meetings. She was rarely gelical Magazine, a letter was absent from public worship on addressed to the Trustees of the the Lord's day, or from confer- Missionary Society of Connectiences when it was possible to at- cut, by a Female Friend of Mistend. Much of her time was sions. Mrs. Prentice was the spent in a careful and prayerful author of that letter. perusal of the inspired writings, and of the books from which divine knowledge was attainable. She often spake of the importance and efficacy of prayer, and it was judged from certain circumstanses that she was often employed in that delightful duty, pouring out her soul to him who seeth in secret. She exhibited uses. The interests of the Redeemer's kingdom lay near her heart. For one in her circumstances she contributed liberally for the promotion of the gospel. The readers of this will remem She exhibited the practical power of godliness in an uncommon degree for several years. Believing that it was better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting, she frequented houses of sorrow, administered consolation to the sick and dying, and tenderly sympathized with those who |