S «. 
 
 
 
 * 
 
 DELIVERED BEFORE THE 
 
 # 
 
 .HAMPSHIRE MISSIONARY SOCIETY, 
 
 at their 
 
 A NNUA T MEETING 
 NORTHAMPTON, Arc. 22, 1822. 
 
 RY HENRY LORD, 
 
 PASTOR OF THE CHURCH IN WILLIAMSBURG H. 
 
 NORTHAMPTON. 
 
 PRINTED J3Y SYLVESTER JUDD, JR, 
 1322. 
 
AT a meeting of the Hampshire Missionary Society, holder, 
 in Northampton, August 22, 1822: 
 
 Voted — That Rev. Messrs. Cooley and Knapp return the 
 thanks of this Society to Rev. Mr. Lord, for his Discourse de- 
 livered before them this day, and request of him a copy, foi 
 the press. 
 
 PAYStfN W1LLISTON, Rcc. X> 
 
 Attest, 
 
SERMON 
 
 II. CHRONICLES xv. 7. 
 
 Be ye strong, therefore, and let not your hands be 
 ^ xceak ; for your xcork shall be rewarded. 
 
 This exhortation and promise were given to Asa, 
 king of Judah, to stimulate him in the service of 
 his God. lie had been successful in his efforts for 
 the safety and prosperity of his kingdom; hut his 
 labors were not at an end. He was to improve his 
 present advantages for the more entire reformation 
 of his people, and for the establishment of peace 
 aud order on a broader and firmer foundation. The 
 success which had attended his labors should ani- 
 mate him to all diligence and zeal in this good 
 work. He was assured of assistance and a merci- 
 ful reward: aud this assurance could not fail to 
 inspire him with courage and strength for the per- 
 formance of his duty. 
 
 We address our text to the officers, members and 
 friends of the Hampshire Missionary Society; Be 
 ye strong and let not your hands be weak; for your 
 work shall be rewarded. Be valiant for the cause 
 of truth aud righteousness. “Quit yourselves like 
 men, be strong.” “Trust in the Lord, aud d© 
 
4 
 
 good.” *‘Bc strong in the Lord and in the power 
 of his might.” Look to Him as your strength, your 
 guide, your rewarder. In our text we learn our 
 duty, and our eucouragemeut for the discharge of it. 
 We are to be stroug; to be firm, resolute, unwaver- 
 ing; to banish all idleness, sluggishness and every 
 desponding fear, and to be faithful unto death. Our 
 hands must not be weak. We must be of good 
 courage, and the Lord will strengthen our hearts. 
 And for our animated perseverance we have the 
 promise that our work will be rewarded. What 
 greater or more precious encouragement can we 
 want in our labor of love, than the promise of the 
 eternal God? 
 
 In pleading the cause of this Society, and solici- 
 ting your patronage, I would 
 
 1. Direct your attention to the smiles of Provi- 
 dence and grace in which it has shared ever since 
 its formation. The Head of the church lias ap- 
 proved of its measures and objects. If it had not 
 been under his protecting and fostering care, it 
 would not have risen to its present high degree of 
 usefulness. We discover his smiles upon it in the 
 integrity, wisdom and activity of its officers; in the 
 liberality of those, who have contributed to its funds; 
 in the diligence, self-denial and zeal of its mis- 
 sionaries; in the favorable and grateful manner in 
 which they have been received; and in the success 
 which lias accompanied their labors. Well may 
 we say, God is in the midst of them; the Lord of 
 hosts is with us. Ilis goodness and mercy have 
 followed this benevolent plan of his servants. He 
 hath looked, with complacency, on the proceedings 
 
5 
 
 aud labors of Ibis Society. Whatever anxiety its 
 founders felt at its commencement, anil whatever 
 fears they had respecting its progress and pros- 
 perity, every year has assisted in removing their 
 fears, and in inspiring them with confidence and for- 
 titude. A voice behind them said, This is the way, 
 walk ye in it: be strong, let not your hands be 
 weak. 
 
 The experiment was new in this part of the, 
 country; difficulties were, apprehended, and objec- 
 tions foreseen. But they were satisfied that the 
 undertaking was warranted by the Scriptures, aud 
 that they could commend it to God and implore 
 his blessing upon it. lie did not shut out their 
 prayer, nor withhold his blessing. His providence 
 has marked out the way for them and exceeded 
 their expectations. Greater is He that is in them, 
 than he that is in the world. The hearts of men 
 have been opened to bring their offerings to the 
 treasury of the Lord and to help forward the work 
 of carrying the word of salvation to their destitute 
 brethren. He has furnished faithful men to be sent, 
 with the message of grace, into the new settlements, 
 and given them much of the spirit of Elijah. 1 
 know of no one of them who has been false to his 
 trust; of no one who has brought reproach upon the 
 Society. They have done credit to the prudence 
 and wisdom of their employers, and honored the 
 cause of the lledeeiner. The God of Jacob has 
 been with them to uphold ami lead them in the 
 path of uprightness, and to strengthen them with 
 might in the inner man. He has enabled them tc 
 
6 
 
 perform a great amount of labor; and their journals 
 have been satisfactory and instructive. 
 
 Look back about twenty years aud see the Society 
 rising iuto existence, and consider the patronage it 
 has received, the extent to which its laborers have 
 preached the gospel, and the high rank it now sus- 
 tains among kindred institutions; and you will say, 
 the King of Zion ha9 regarded it with benignant 
 smiles, and placed upou it undoubted marks of ilia 
 approbation. Whether we arc solicited to contri- 
 bute to its funds, or called to manage its varied 
 concerns, how powerfully will the consciousness of 
 Divine approbation urge to the duty! 
 
 2. Consider the goc/rf which has been done by the 
 Society. Its messengers have proclaimed good 
 tidings of great joy to many who were scattered as 
 sheep without a shepherd. The importance of this 
 work will be estimated by all who know the value 
 of religion, and also the propensity of men to forget 
 God and neglect His worship, and who are aware 
 of the danger those are in, that have not the evan- 
 gelical ministry, of setting at naught the Sabbath 
 and Christian ordinances, and of bringing up their 
 families in ignorance of the bible and in estrange- 
 ment from whatever pertains to the welfare of the 
 soul. People, in this situation, revert to that 
 moral apathy, and habitual and hardened disregard 
 of the Supreme Being which resemble the insensi- 
 bility and unbelief of those whose stock is a doctrine 
 of vanity. God is not in all their thoughts; they 
 are ignorant of His word; and His providence and 
 worship are alike treated with cold and inlldcl 
 neglect. Those, who remove from places where the 
 
7 
 
 true light sh-onc, find where they were instructed i»i 
 the doctrines and precepts of the bible, will soon 
 forget what they had learned, if they are not fur- 
 nished with the preaching of the cross, and its 
 accompanying advantages. The mind is prone to 
 indolence; and the darkness of sin will prevail to 
 banish the light which had been imparted. The 
 moral state of men, left without the means of in- 
 struction, is retrograde. They depart further from 
 their Maker, and plunge deeper into pollution. — 
 The voice of conscience becomes feeble and w aver- 
 ing; its edge is blunted. It requires the regular 
 observance of (he ordinances of the gospel to keep 
 the moral sense awake, to impress upon men any 
 proper regard to their Creator, and any suitable 
 respect to His statutes. Even the combined influ- 
 ence of the reading and preaching of the gospel, of 
 the Sabbath, and of the church as holding forth the 
 word of life, is not sufficient to establish them in 
 that state of sobriety', virtue and purity, which is 
 necessary for their present and future good. In the 
 midst of all this salutary influence, the peace and 
 order of society are often violated, and iuiquity 
 gains many devotees. The corrupt propensity of 
 the heart is but partially counteracted by the pres- 
 ence of- the whole system of instituted means. Men 
 rebel against their Maker by breaking his laws and 
 despising the overtures of his mercy, in despite of 
 all this influence. What then may you expect from 
 them when removed from the means of grace, and 
 let loose from the restraints of the institutions of 
 religion? When they have no one to watch for 
 their souls, to show them their transgression, ad- 
 
3 
 
 monish them of their danger, and entreat them to 
 fly to the city of refuge, their hearts rapidly acquire 
 new degrees of hardness, and siu fastens its chains 
 upon them with a strength that mocks all attempts 
 to break them off. They forget the privileges they 
 once had, and give themselves license to commit 
 iniquity with greediness. Feeling themselves free 
 from all the checks of Christian society, they sell 
 themselves to be the servants of unrighteousness. — 
 They hear no hell of the sanctuary to remind them 
 of the sacredness of the Sabbath, to call them to 
 the house of worship, to awaken their consciences 
 to the duties of the day, and to warn them not to do 
 their own work, nor find their own pleasure during 
 the consecrated hours of rest. They are bereft of 
 those instructions w hich infinite wisdom has declar- 
 ed to be necessary to keep them from the paths of 
 the destroyer. They become the dupes of error 
 and the victims of the god of this world. 
 
 My brethren, this Society has been the means 
 of preserving many towns in our new settlements 
 from falling into this ignorance and immorality. It 
 lias done very much not only to keep them from 
 sinking, but to raise them to a respectable standing 
 in regard of education and religious order. The 
 rose of Sharon has reared its head and smiled, and 
 breathed its reviving fragrance, where naught but 
 the thorn and brier would have grown. The desert 
 has become as the Eden of God. Your mission- 
 aries have been blessed as the instruments of re- 
 claiming the vicious, of enlightening the ignorant, 
 and of plucking the wicked as brands from the bur- 
 ning. They found them pining away'iu their sins, 
 
9 
 
 groping in the dark as blind men, and living with* 
 out God and without hope. They went to their 
 lonely habitations, they spoke to them of Jesus and 
 His salvation, they instructed them in the spirit of 
 meekness and love, and directed them to the Ark of 
 safety. They assembled them in some place of 
 worship, and reasoned with them of righteousness, 
 temperance and judgment. Like. Felix they trem- 
 bled. And tliough some might wish them to go 
 their way for the present, yet others trembled till 
 they found rest for their souls in the Savior. What 
 grace has been upon your missionaries to comfort 
 and guide them in their journeyings and labors in 
 fulfilling their commission! The hand of the Lord 
 has been with them: and a great number have be- 
 lieved and turned unto the Lord. — Acts xi. 21. 
 H ow precious have been the revivals in divers 
 places where they have labored! They have col- 
 lected churches, and established them on the foun- 
 dation of the prophets and apostles, Jesus Christ 
 himself being the chief corner stoue. These 
 churches would not probably have been gathered, 
 if these faithful servants of Christ had not been sent 
 on their errand of love. The places where these 
 churches exist, would have remained barren and 
 waste; and none of the verdure or fruit of the garden 
 of grace would have been seen or enjoyed. The 
 fervent missionary prayed, Awake, O north wind, 
 and come, thou south; and in answer to his prayer, 
 the Holy Spirit came in His awakening, softening 
 and vivifying breath, and caused a goodly number 
 to rise up for God, and to flock around the standard 
 of the cross. Had he not taught and prayed, there 
 
would, instead of this delightful and refreshing 
 wind, have been the blasting wind of error, heresy 
 and vice, which, like the blighting and pestilential 
 Simoon of the Arabian desert, would have destroy- 
 ed the morals and souls of men. 
 
 The observation is just that “the greater part of 
 the Christian churches in all our new settlements 
 owe their origin to the labors of the missionaries 
 who have been employed by the several societies 
 in the nation.” Six different states have partaken 
 of your charities in the preaching and labors of your 
 missionaries. Could you have visited the various 
 places of their ministerial work, before they went 
 there, and could you now visit them again, what a 
 rich gratification would you have in noticing the 
 mighty benefits which have accrued to them! What 
 pure pleasure and grateful praise would fill your 
 souls in beholding the usefulness of your Society, 
 as proved in the favors conferred upon them through 
 its instrumentality! Some widow, with a family 
 of little helpless children, oppressed with care and 
 anxiety, dwelling in a poor, shattered cottage, ex- 
 posed to the relentless winds and fierce storms of 
 winter, and to the distresses of poverty; some such 
 widow would tell you, with a heart full of holy 
 gratitude, how she lias been comforted and sup- 
 ported by the devotional prayers, and kind and 
 faithful instructions of your missionary. The or- 
 phan child too would tell you how he declared to 
 him the unsearchable riches of Christ, and taught 
 him how to obtain a better inheritance than that 
 which descends lrom parents, even an inheritance 
 in the kingdom of our God. The youth, who had 
 
li 
 
 been ensnared by tlie artifices of the unprincipled, 
 and well nigh hurried down to the gulf of endless 
 wretchedness, would inform you with hope beaming 
 in his countenance, and joy sparkling in his eye, 
 how the herald of salvation, sent from you, was the 
 means of recovering him from his delusion and 
 ruin and of setting his feet on the Rock of ages. — 
 You might likewise meet some aged sinner, who, 
 under the guilt of three score years and ten, had 
 been aroused from the sleep of spiritual death, and 
 brought, at the eleventh hour to repentance and 
 faith, and enabled to rejoice in hope of the glory of 
 God. You would learn how many hands, which 
 hung down, have been lifted up; how many waver- 
 ing have been confirmed, and how many wandering 
 have been guided to the sheepfold of Christ. Could 
 you witness all this, you would exclaim, What 
 hath God wrought by means of this Society? 
 
 Your souls would also exult iu the foundation 
 which has thus been laid for good to he done in 
 future years. You would see schools established 
 for the instruction of the rising generation, hooks 
 distributed to inform and enlarge the mind, houses 
 of worship built, the sacramental table prepared 
 and furnished to commemorate the dying love of 
 the Savior, and to quicken and strengthen liis peo- 
 ple. Thence you would look forward to remote 
 posterity, and see numberless blessings flowing to 
 them from the exertions now made. 
 
 3. Consider the need in which this Society 
 stands of continued support. If it be neglected, it 
 will sink. It w T as established on the free will- 
 offerings of the benevolent and liberal; these must 
 
12 
 
 he continued, or the work must cease. It is not 
 like the barrel of meal, nor the cruse of oil, of the 
 widow of Zarephath, which wasted not, neither 
 failed. We expect no such miraculous supply, no 
 such protracting of our fuuds. Our treasurer must, 
 every year, meet expenditures of very cousiderable 
 amount. These will exhaust our funds, unless they 
 are replenished by the streams of charity. Our 
 contributions must not decrease: they must be aug- 
 mented to answer the increasing calls upon our 
 treasury. The hopes of many needy and desolate 
 churches and towns have been raised, and directed 
 to you for relief from their famishing state. These 
 expectations must not be disappointed by our in- 
 dolence and avarice. Our hands must not be weak, 
 nor our hearts dull in this labor of benevolence. — 
 Our love to the cause of Christ, and to our necessi- 
 tous brethren, must increase and abound yet more 
 and more. Although we have supplied some places 
 with the regular administration of the word and 
 ordinances of Christ, yet there are many others 
 which want the same help. The population of 
 those sections of the country to which vve now r Ter, 
 is fast increasing. Hence missionary exertions 
 must be continued and multiplied. “Within the 
 bounds of this highly favored land, there are not 
 only many infant churches aud congregations which 
 need immediate encouragement and assistance in 
 supporting Christian ordinances, but numerous vil- 
 lages and newly settled districts which have never 
 enjoyed them. Every year serves to disclose, if not 
 augment, the spiritual wants of our new settlements. 
 Unless much of an efficient character be attempted 
 
13 
 
 on behalf of the waste places of Zion, and of our 
 destitute brethren, we must expect to see some of 
 the fairest portions of the country become a prey to 
 infidelity and vice. While some desolate regions 
 have been regularly visited by missionaries of dif- 
 ferent societies, others, equally iu want of their aid, 
 have been passed by and suffered to remain unex- 
 plored. The Christian public at large is, at this 
 moment, quite ignorant of the moral condition of 
 some sections of our land.” 
 
 Since so much remains to be done, this Society 
 must uot be forsaken by its friends and supporters. 
 What a monument of disgrace it would be to the 
 community comprised within its limits, if its treasury 
 should be empty and its exertions die! What a 
 stigma upon our character as Christians! What a 
 reproach to us as having put our hands to the plow 
 and looked back! “Tell it not in Gath, publish it 
 not iu the streets of Askelon,” would some future 
 David exclaim. If we would not subject our name 
 to opprobrium, nor our posterity to the sneers and 
 taunts of the euemies of the church, let our contri- 
 butions continue aud enlarge. Let this Society 
 form a lastiug memorial of your charity. Let your 
 benevolence be the means of perpetuating and 
 swelling the song of praise to our God and Savior. 
 Let it never be said, that here there once was a 
 Society, which flourished for twenty years, and 
 then was neglected and suffered to decay, because 
 there was not virtue and public spirit enough to 
 maintain it. Think not that it is sufficient to pay 
 something to it for once, and afterward withhold 
 your contributions; but donations must be steadily 
 
continued from year to year. Then let it be sup- 
 ported while there is a church or congregation that 
 wants its help, or a sinner to be reclaimed, or a be- 
 liever to be edified, by its missionary. 
 
 In addition to the duty we owe to them imme- 
 diately, we observe that “the American church is 
 probably destined to perform a most important part 
 in evangelizing the world. If so, our extended 
 territories must be thickly planted with the churches 
 of our Lord Jesus, which, growing to maturity 
 under the nurture of His grace, will be fitted to 
 perform the great work to which he may call them. 
 Let the wastes of Ziou be thoroughly built up, and 
 the heathen world will have a resource from which 
 too much can hardly be expected.” Hence while 
 we assist iu establishing the good order of the 
 gospel in the newly settled parts of our country, we 
 are laying a foundation for rich and extensive 
 benefits to heathen nations. 
 
 4. Recollect the gratitude so often and so feel- 
 ingly expressed by those who have received the 
 benefactions of this Society. Many letters of thanks 
 have been written by them. In these they ac- 
 knowledge the favors and privileges they enjoy in 
 consequence of your donations. In the last Report 
 of your Trustees, under the head, Vermont, they 
 say from tbe Journal of Mr. Spaulding; “Many 
 appeared to he thankful for missionary aid, and to 
 feel high obligations to the Hampshire Missionary 
 Society for sending them good books and missiona- 
 ries.” In their Report for 1820, in their notice of 
 Mr. Strong, who labored on the Reserve, state of 
 Ohio, they say that “the people expressed their 
 
io 
 
 gratitude to the Society for his services;” and, that 
 they added further; “We feel indebted to the dif- 
 ferent missionary societies for all the religious in- 
 struction we have on this Reserve. We have evi- 
 dence that their endeavors to disseminate truth in 
 these parts have been blessed. Many places, not 
 far distant from us, are profiting by their exertions. 
 Revivals of religion are frequently heard of in dif- 
 ferent parts of the state, in consequence of missiona- 
 ries and religious information coming from those 
 societies.” Could you know all the gratitude which 
 converted sinners have felt towards the instruments 
 of their blessings, and all the thankfulness which 
 Christians, faint anti weary in the wilderness, have 
 expressed for the feast of mercy to which your 
 agents have led them, you would he sensible of a 
 most enlivening motive to persevere in your benefi- 
 cent purpose. Their gratitude would constrain 
 you to he steadfast and unmoveable in your work 
 of kindness and charity. To know that you have 
 done them good, and to he assured that they regard 
 your benefactions with emotions of thankfulness, 
 would forbid your desisting from your benevolent 
 undertaking. 
 
 There may be some, whom your missionaries 
 Tisit, that view your gifts and their labors with cold 
 indifference. These may tell you that your charities 
 might have been spared from them, and applied to 
 other objects; and some among yourselves may 
 censure your motives, find fault with your proceed- 
 ings, and tell you that what is given into your 
 treasury is wasted. Such persons, in our uew set- 
 tlements, despise their own mercies; and the objec- 
 
16 
 
 tors, among yourselves, lie under an egregious mis- 
 take. They know not what they say, nor whereof 
 they affirm. We refer them to the annual reports of 
 the Society, which contain correct statements of all 
 the monies received and of the manner in which 
 they are expended. If they will not be. satisfied 
 with these, they would not be satisfied with any 
 evidence in any case. Indeed their objections arc 
 directed against the whole of that mutual confidence 
 which subsists among men, and which is the basis 
 of nearly all the business that is transacted in the 
 various departments of human affairs. The inhabi- 
 tants of no town, no county, no state, have better 
 vouchers, that the money, by them p-aid for public 
 purposes, is actually expended for those identical 
 purposes, than we have that the money paid into 
 the treasury of this Society, is expended for accom- 
 plishing the designs declared in its constitution. 
 
 But our course must not be retarded either by 
 ingratitude or cavil. We believe the cause in 
 which we arc engaged, is the cause of Christ, and 
 that it will prosper: and we know that a large 
 number receive the servants of Jesus, whom we send 
 to them, with a cordial welcome, and are unfeign- 
 cdly thankful for their services. The blessings of 
 many ready to perish have come upon them. Their 
 gratitude is a good comment on the wisdom and 
 kindness of your measures, and on the success 
 which has attended them. 
 
 5 . Consider how important it is that the institu- 
 tions of religion should correspond with the growth 
 of our new settlements. This consideration em- 
 braces the political welfare of the nation, as well as 
 
17 
 
 the spiritual good of those who arc immediately 
 respected. “Righteousness cxalteth a nation; hut 
 sin is a reproach to any people.” Correct morals 
 will not prevail, unless the principles of religion ara 
 inculcated and imbibed. These arc the only foun- 
 dation of sound morality. This is manifest from 
 the nature of the case. The tree must be good, or 
 the fruit will not be good. The same is also evi- 
 dent from the notious and schemes of those who 
 reject divine revelation. Deists have avowed and 
 advocated sentiments which are subversive of all 
 order in community. Were their notions generally 
 admitted and reduced to practice in a nation, the 
 foundation of government would he destroyed. — 
 Confusion and anarchy, with their attendant evils, 
 would prostrate every thing that is virtuous or de- 
 sirable. Of this, ample proof may be furnished by 
 the writings of this class of men. Bolinbroke, 
 Sliaftsbury, Hume and Tindal may be mentioned as 
 examples. Nor might it be irrelevant to refer to 
 another description of men who. under the garb of 
 a professed respect for the word of God, entertain 
 and promulge sentiments about as dangerous as 
 those of the above cited authors. 
 
 In accordance with there remarks, we find that 
 where the scriptures and their institutions are neg- 
 lected, vice, with disorganizing opiuions, prevails; 
 and the direct tendency of all this is to destroy 
 every correct idea of subordination and to spread a 
 general profligacy of manners. It is useless to 
 think of maintaining a free and virtuous government, 
 and of eujoying the blessings of it, when the very 
 principles of such government, and all the instruc- 
 3 
 
is 
 
 lions which contribute to its support, are openly and 
 insolently trampled under foot by the great hody 
 of the nation. We cannot gather grapes of thorns> 
 nor figs of thistles. 
 
 If we love our country and desire its highest 
 prosperity, we shall labor to extend and confirm 
 those opinions and principles which are the only 
 sure basis of national dignity and happiness. When 
 we consider how extensive our new settlements arc, 
 and how fast they are still increasing, we ought to 
 feel and to act under the conviction, that it is ex- 
 tremely important that the gospel and its ordinances 
 spread with equal rapidity. If we would secure 
 their welfare anil the greatest amount of good to the 
 nation from them as members of the body politic, 
 we must be diligent and unwearied in our efforts to 
 send them the scriptures and to establish among 
 them the ministry of reconciliation. 
 
 “Be ye strong, therefore, and let not your hands 
 he weak; for your work shall he rewarded.” If 
 you are active and cheerful in serving God, you 
 will receive a rich recompense. “He that giveth 
 to the poor, leudeth to the Lord.” £t is safe and. 
 profitable to make this your deposit. “Honor the 
 Lord with thy substance and with the first fruits of 
 all thine increase; So shall thy barns be filled with 
 plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new 
 wine.” To the benevolent and obedient he has 
 promised; “I will make them a blessing; and I 
 will cause the shower to come down in his season; 
 iherc shall be showers of blessing.” Temporal 
 and spiritual blessings rest on those who deny 
 themselves, and follow Christ who went about 
 
(loin" good. It may justly he remarked that since 
 the era of missions in our land there have been 
 unusual revivals of religion. Within twenty five 
 years there have been by far more numerous revi- 
 vals than .there were in a much longer term before 
 that period. Press on in faith; your work shall be 
 rewarded. The Savior has said, “It is more blessed 
 to give than to receive;” and we are elsewhere 
 assured, “that he, that watereth, shall be watered 
 also himself.” With this gracious promise, the 
 providence of God, is observed remarkably to agree. 
 He has always imparted the most desirable pros- 
 perity, the greatest measure of divine influence, to 
 those churches and societies which have been pecu- 
 liarly active in disseminating the gospel. In this 
 country particularly, the churches have been watered 
 in proportion to their missionary efforts. Were 
 they all to unite their supplications and zealous 
 endeavors in this cause, he would doubtless pour 
 out upon them an abundant blessing. 
 
 We conclude iu the language of a late address. 
 “On behalf of that glorious gospel which was never 
 meant to be restricted to any one uation, or class of 
 society, but was entrusted to the church to be pro- 
 pagated in every part of the world; on behalf of the 
 destitute sections of our own country, of the dwellers 
 in the new settlements, the emigrants from our cities, 
 our churches and our domestic altars, w ho now de- 
 sire in vain the Christian privileges they once en- 
 joyed; on behalf of multitudes of precious souls 
 descending to perdition for lack of knowledge; and 
 of other and still greater multitudes who will come 
 
20 
 
 after them, and be educated in the ways of holiness 
 or sin, according as we either espouse or neglect 
 the cause of missions; ou behalf of your owu com- 
 munions and churches, whose zeal in this piou3 
 work will never be overlooked, nor pass unre- 
 warded; we entreat you to continue and abound i: 
 your charities*” 
 
 % 
 
TWENTY FIRST REPORT, 
 
 Of the Trustees of the Hampshire Missionary 
 Society, presented at the Annual Meeting , 
 August 22, 182 2. 
 
 The Trustees, in performance of tlieir duty, and in 
 grateful acknowledgements of God’s continued Mes- 
 sing attendant on missionary efforts, beg leave to 
 report to this Society, the measures adopted and 
 the labors performed the year past, in sending the 
 gospel of Christ to the destitute, and in furnishing 
 them with the means of salvation. It is a subject 
 of mutual congratulation that we may assemble on 
 this anniversary, to transact the concerns of our 
 Redeemer’s kingdom, and to render thanks to Al- 
 mighty God, that He inclined our hearts and the 
 hearts of our fathers, some of whom are removed 
 to their final sphere of action, to institute this So- 
 ciety, at so early a period of missionary enterprise; 
 and that it has secured the confidence and received 
 the patronage of the religious public, during each 
 successive year of its operation. Though its local 
 limits are contracted, embracing only the old county 
 of Hampshire, yet it has been enabled to send its 
 missionaries, the bible and other pious books into 
 several states many hundred miles distant from 
 each other, where the people are destitute of the 
 divinely appointed administrations of the gospel. 
 
 During the past year, ten missionaries in the 
 service of the Society, have performed lahors and 
 
distributed religious books in the states of Maine, 
 Vermont, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and 
 Virginia. 
 
 In the state of Maine, Rev. Messrs. Thomas 
 Williams, Josiah Pcet and Fifield Holt have per- 
 formed each a mission of ten weeks. Mr. Williams 
 labored in the vicinity of Brewer, where he then 
 Lad a pastoral charge. He preached in four desti- 
 tute societies, in one of which the people are in a 
 very interesting situation. It is a new settlement, 
 at fifteen miles distant from any other, and happily 
 united in religious sentiments. The solemn atten- 
 tion and tenderness of mind exhibited by the people 
 while hearing tire word, and their expressions of 
 gratitude for such a privilege, were happy presages 
 that labors bestowed on them would not be in vain. 
 Mr. Williams slates, “that by the blessing of God 
 on the labors of a pious female teacher in a school, 
 there has been a number of hopeful conversions, and 
 your missionary hopes to be soon called to gather 
 them into a church. Generally it may lie said 
 safely, that the people in this vicinity are gradually 
 becoming more understanding in the distinguishing 
 doctrines of the gospel, and real Christians more 
 engaged in the cause of Christ. 
 
 Mr. Pcet performed his mission in the destitute 
 settlements in the neighborhood of Norridgewock, 
 where lie resides. He has labored in these same 
 settlements as a missionary for several years past, 
 and been instrumental of strengthening the feeble 
 churches he has visited. 
 
 Mr. Holt performed his mission in towus near 
 Bloomfield, where he is settled over a church and 
 
23 
 
 people for a part of the time, llis labors wero 
 geatefully received, and hopefully to the advantage 
 of the people. 
 
 Mr. Holt has just finished a mission to which ha 
 was appointed for the year 1832. By his journal 
 now arrived we learn that he w’ent over nearly the 
 same ground he occupied the year before, and with 
 similar effects. In the county where he performed 
 his mission, the harvest is increasing and ths 
 laborers are few. He writes, “that the country is 
 settling more rapidly of late, and this county is in- 
 creasing from 20 to 30,000 soub, and but two of 
 our order to break to them the bread of life. 1 be- 
 lieve that your missionaries, in this vicinity, have 
 not labored hi vain, and that a future day may 
 evince to you that your munificence lias not been 
 lost in these waste places of Zion. You have the 
 prayers and thanks of many who have been fed a3 
 from your table; and you are still solicited to help 
 them to enjoy the blessings which poverty and dis- 
 cord forbid them, without your aid, to enjoy.*’ 
 
 In Vermont, three missionaries, llev. .Messrs. 
 James Parker, Philip Spaulding and David II. 
 Williston have labored the year past, and are 
 commissioned for the present year. 
 
 Mr. Parker has performed a mission of twenty 
 weeks iu the northern part of the state, where his 
 labors seem to have been blessed to the comfort of 
 Christians and the conversion of sinners. He ad- 
 mitted into the visible church between forty and 
 fifty persons, baptized forty three, of whom twenty 
 three were adults, and repeatedly administered the 
 Lord’s supper. He was received in every place 
 
with unaffected kindness, and he found hearts and 
 eyes overflowing with gratitude that a missionary 
 had come among them. He. appears to have been 
 unusually successful in performing the arduous 
 services assigned him. 
 
 Mr. Spaulding’s residence and charge are in 
 Jamaica, and his missionary field was among tlie 
 destitute towns in that region. He was in the 
 service of the Society ten weeks, and preached and 
 labored as lie had ability. In his journal he says, 
 “I have not had the happiness to witness any tiling 
 like a revival or a special attention to the great 
 concerns of the soul. The people have generally 
 attended to the preaching of the word on the Sab- 
 bath, but lectures on week days have been 
 thinly attended. Not a few feel and express their 
 obligation to the Hampshire Missionary Society for 
 good books and missionary services, and wish that 
 these might still be extended to them. 
 
 Mr. Williston has for many years performed 
 annually a mission in the service of this Society. — 
 His field of labors, lias been the northern parts 
 of the state, where the thinly settled inhabitants 
 have thankfully received him, and attended on 
 his ministrations. He is now engaged on a mis- 
 sion of twenty weeks; but his journal has not been 
 received. 
 
 In New York, Rev. Isaac Clinton was appointed 
 to a mission of twenty weeks, in the county of St. 
 Lawrence. In consequence of sickness in his 
 family, he has performed only 14 weeks service. — 
 Ho states that he has reason to believe that his 
 labors in every place have been acceptable, that 
 
lie has boon an instrument in the hand of God to 
 edify, strengthen and confirm many of his children, 
 and enabled to administer the balm of consolation to 
 some on beds of sickness or called to mourning; and 
 in some instances to awaken such as were dead in 
 trespasses and sin. Wherever he travelled, much 
 gratitude to the Missionary Society was expressed. 
 He observes that in several towns which he visited, 
 there are, at the present time, considerable revivals 
 of religion and ministerial help is much needed. 
 
 In the same state, Rev. Samuel Parker, who 
 preaches three fourths of the time in Danby, lias a 
 mission of thirteen weeks in Tioga county and vi- 
 cinity. This part of the state, and the adjacent 
 parts of Pennsylvania, are, to a great extent, in a 
 very destitute situation. 
 
 In the state of Ohio, Rev. Joseph W. Curtis has 
 a pastoral charge in the town of Warren, county of 
 Trumbull, for one half of the time; the other half, 
 he performs missionary labors for this Society in 
 the destitute towns around him, while the inhabi- 
 tants, where his services are performed, afford him, 
 by stipulation, nearly half his compensation. He 
 occupies an important station; and his labors here- 
 tofore have been attended with the peculiar blessiug 
 of God. By his journal just received, it appears 
 that lie has been called, in his late mission, to en- 
 courage and establish them, who before professed 
 by his instrumentality to have become converts to 
 the truth as it is in Jesus; though wc may hope that 
 his labors have also been blessed to the conversion 
 of some sinners. He remarks, “my attention has 
 been called chiefly to the work of ministering to 
 4 
 
2t> 
 
 visible saints. In this sphere, I have found much 
 that needed to be done, that the inexperienced 
 might be instructed, the timid and weak encouraged 
 and cheered, that the hope of the doubting Christian 
 might be established, that unstable souls might be 
 grounded in the truth, the tempted receive succor, 
 that the backsliden be recovered, and the mourner 
 be comforted. * In a few instances, 1 have been 
 permitted to partake of the joy of angels over the 
 returning sinner.” 
 
 Mr. Curtis has expressed an anxious wish that 
 another missionary should be sent to the people in 
 liis vicinity; and, through his agency, such arrange- 
 ments have been made by securing to the Society 
 one moiety of the expense from the inhabitants, that 
 the Trustees have complied with his request. 
 
 Accordingly Mr. Horace Smith, of Hadley, a 
 licentiate for the Christian ministry, was appointed. 
 Mr. Smith having signified his acceptance, was, to 
 promote his more extensive usefulness, ordained, in 
 March last, as an Evangelist; and, soon after, he 
 entered on his mission. By a communication from 
 him, since his arrival, we learn that he was cor- 
 dially received, and that his labors are equally 
 divided among the three contiguous towns of Can- 
 field, Ellsworth and Boardnian. He finds his situ- 
 ation more pleasant and promising than he antici- 
 pated, and has already witnessed some instances of 
 special seriousness. 
 
 In the state of Ohio and the ad jacent parts of Penn- 
 sylvania, Rev. Royal Phelps has performed two 
 missions, one of twenty weeks, the other of ten, 
 which lie finished in September last. He labored 
 
27 
 
 very needy parts of our country, where many rv* 
 perishing for lack of vision. Besides his other 
 labors, it appears from his journal, that he preached 
 five or six sermons a week. W hile he endeavored 
 to comfort the fainting people of God, lie trusts, 
 “that through his instrumentality, some sinners 
 were awakened and brought to the saving knowledge 
 of the truth. Many destitute settlements were sup- 
 plied with the occasional preaching of the Gospel, 
 and many hungry souls in the wilderness were fed 
 with the bread of life. The friends of missions 
 have reason to rejoice that, through their benevolent 
 exertions, the poor have the Gospel preached to 
 them. Let them therefore not be weary in well 
 doing, but rest assured, that the blessing of many 
 ready to perish will come upon them.” 
 
 In Virginia, Kev. Asa Brooks, who has the 
 charge of a church at Freucli Creek, Lewis county, 
 has been in the service of the Society ten weeks. — 
 He performed missionary labors iu the counties of 
 Lewis, Randolph and Harrison, where the people 
 as much need missionaries as in any part of our 
 country. The people, having never been habituated 
 to religious instructions, have not sufficiently re- 
 flected on the advantages of the stated administra- 
 tions of the Gospel. But their attention is now 
 mure directed to this object, since they have been 
 visited by missionaries from this Society. Until 
 within four or five years, there was not one regular 
 and able minister of the Gospel, of any denomina- 
 tion, in either of the above counties, and several 
 other counties in the same region, embracing an 
 extent of territory probably larger than the five 
 
western counties in Massachusetts, and a numerous 
 population. Now, by the aid of this Society, two 
 worthy ministers are settled; Mr. Brooks, in Lewis 
 county, and Mr. Aretas Loomis, in Randolph 
 county: and in addition another, Rev. Ludovicus 
 Robbins, is in a hopeful way of settlement. 
 
 In April last, Mr. Robbins was appointed to a 
 mission of one year, in the county of Pocahontas 
 and vicinity, which has lately been formed out of 
 Bath and other counties not remote from Randolph. 
 The people had previously agreed with Mr. Loomis 
 that they would be at half of the expense of the 
 mission. Mr. Robbins, soon after his appointment, 
 entered on his mission, expecting, should the door 
 in Divine Provideuce be opened, to take up his 
 permanent residence in that part of the country; 
 and the Trustees have a pleasing expectation, that 
 through the agency of this Society, a sufficient num- 
 ber of ministers will shortly be settled in that region 
 to constitute a presbytery; as there is now none 
 Hearer than between one and two hundred miles. 
 
 From these statements, it will appear, that there 
 have been for different terms of time, the last year, 
 ten missionaries in the service of the Society. They 
 have been usefully and faithfully employed in the 
 distribution of the bible and other religious books 
 to the needy and destitute, in visiting the sick and 
 afflicted, in visiting schools and from house to house 
 as they have had opportunity, in attending church 
 and prayer meetings, in giving personal instruction 
 to children, in administering the holy ordinances of 
 baptism and the Lord’s supper; and especially in 
 preaching the Gospel on the Sabbath and on other 
 
£9 
 
 tlavs. They Iiave preached four or five sermons a 
 week on an average, or between five and six hun- 
 dred sermons in the whole. By the aid of this 
 Society, they have been hopefully the favored in- 
 struments of quickening and comforting the people 
 of God, and of gathering souls into the kingdom of 
 the Redeemer. 
 
 The present year, there are twelve missionaries 
 engaged in the service of the Society, the sum of 
 whose term of service exceeds 250 weeks, or nearly 
 five years; and about one half their compensation, 
 is, by stipulation, to be received from the people 
 among whom they labor. The call for more mis- 
 sionaries is loud and urgent; and, if the means of 
 the Society would justify the measure, hundreds, if 
 engaged, would be thankfully received and usefully 
 employed. With our limited resources, we ought 
 to rejoice that we are able to send so many 
 preachers of the Gospel to our needy brethren in 
 the desolate parts of the country. 
 
 On a retrospect ot the efforts and operations of 
 this Society from its establishment to this time, we 
 have reason to bless God, that, in his mercy, he 
 hath rendered it extremely useful in promoting the 
 dearest interests of our fellow immortals. Letters 
 of thanks have frequently been received by people 
 visited by our missionaries, expressing their obliga- 
 tions to the Society, for the advantages, and in 
 many instances, the saving effects resulting from 
 the benevolent labors bestowed upon them; and, at 
 the same time, earnestly requesting that they might 
 again be favored with missionary aid. 
 
30 
 
 For several years past, the contributions of the 
 public to this Society, lmve been diminishing, and, 
 of course, a shade is cast over the prospect of its 
 future operations. Yet its interests have not been 
 wholly overlooked. A number of towns and Fe- 
 male Associations have continued their pious chari- 
 ties. To all who have contributed to the funds of 
 the Society, the Trustees teuder their sincere thanks. 
 To the Female Associations, they feel under special 
 obligations. Their benevoleut assistance has ena- 
 bled the Society extensively to distribute the sacred 
 scriptures and a great variety of other evangelical 
 writings, among the poor and destitute people in 
 infant settlements. The continued aid of these 
 pious ladies is still greatly needed and earnestly 
 requested. And, when it is considered, that in the 
 days of Christ’s flesh, His female disciples were 
 foremost and most abundant to administer to Him 
 and His cause, they have given a pledge to their 
 Savior, that, in every succeeding generation, their 
 daughters will sustain their amiable and pious repu- 
 tation by pouring their consecrated offerings into 
 His treasury. 
 
 If tlje happy and wonderful effects of the Chris- 
 tian world, to enlighten the ignorant, to reclaim the 
 wandering, to give efficacy to divine institutions 
 and cause the gospel to be preached to every 
 creature, be useful to mankind and honorable to 
 God, then this Society holds a rank among the 
 benevolent institutions of our country, and lias a 
 claim upon the public for confidence and patronage. 
 If to distribute the bible and other pious books, 
 religious pamphlets and tracts be a good work — 
 
31 
 
 if to be instrumental of settling miuistcrs over 
 churches and congregations be useful to the eternal 
 interests of souls — if to preach the gospel to the 
 poor, and to beseech men in Christ’s stead to be 
 reconciled to God, be benevolent, and an heavenly 
 charity, then let this Society be cherished aud sup- 
 ported, and its abilities increased. 
 
 Since the formation of this Society, other societies 
 which have essentially the same great object in 
 view, have been formed within the same limits. — 
 These have received a large proportion of the public 
 attention and deserved encouragement. But the 
 Hampshire Missionary Society, which, in priority 
 of time, has a precedence of them all, and in use- 
 fulness, is perhaps exceeded by none, has, in a 
 great degree, been overlooked for several years past, 
 and is in danger of passing into forgetfulness. A 
 considerable proportion of the towns, which formerly 
 poured their contributions with liberality into its 
 treasury, now add little or nothing to its funds — 
 This is deeply to be regretted. And, if its former 
 benefactors should know its wants, and reflect that 
 unless the fostering hand of charity is still opened 
 to its aid, its operations must be impeded and ulti- 
 mately cease, they would undoubtedly feel con- 
 strained to give it their influence, and, under the 
 impulse of their first love, would nourish it with 
 paternal solicitude, and rejoice to see its increasing 
 efficiency in subserving the interests of Christ’s 
 kingdom. 
 
 To close. In this wonderful day, when God 
 appears glorious in building up Zion, we have every 
 encouragement to increase in zeal and activity, and 
 
32 
 
 to take a cheerful and forward part in spreading tin 
 tidings of great joy, which were announced on the 
 nativity of Christ, to the shepherds of Bethlehem. 
 Through the prayers, efforts and benefactions of 
 Christians, these glad tidings are, at no remote 
 period, to be proclaimed to all people, and furnish 
 all nations with songs of salvation. By the aid of 
 missionary, bible and other societies, a companied 
 by the Omnipotent Spirit of light and truth, the 
 Pagan, Mahommedan and Jewish millions of man- 
 kind, are to be converted from all the miseries of 
 idolatry, delusion and unbelief, and are. to enjoy the 
 privileges and felicities of the church of God, which 
 he hath purchased with His own blood. Let us 
 then march firmly' forward, as soldiers of the cross, 
 animated with the hope of wearing that crown of 
 righteousness which fadeth not away. 
 
 By order of the Trustees, 
 
 JOSEPH LYV1AN, President. 
 
 Northampton, August 22, 1823. 
 
 Voted — That the Report of the Trustees now read, be ac- 
 cepted; that it be printed under the direction of the Commit- 
 tee of the Trustees; that a copy of it he sent to each congre- 
 gational and presbyterian church, connected with this Society; 
 to the minister, if there be a minister, and if there be none, to 
 some suitable brother of the Church. And every such 
 minister or brother of the Cbnrch, is requested to read the 
 Report publicly to the congregation, and solicit a contribution 
 to be made on the day of the annual Thanksgiving, or on some 
 Lord’s-day, to replenish the funds, and enlarge the ability of 
 this Society in extending the blessings of the Gospel to their 
 needy brethren. 
 
 Voted — That each Church within the limits of this Society, 
 be requested, annually, to appoint and send a delegate to 
 attend its meetings, and that this vote, every year, he pub- 
 lished, in such a manner as the Committee of the Trustees 
 shall judge expedient. 
 
 Attest, FAYSON W1LLISTON, Rec'g. Sec’y 
 
Abstract of the Treasurer's Account. 
 
 D. S. Whitney, Treasurer of H. M. Society, Dr. 
 
 To Cash on band from old account, per audit, 
 
 August 1821, $361 3 *7 
 
 “ Amount received after the audit, included in 
 
 last Report, 291 58 
 
 RECEIVED SINCE REPORT OF 1821. 
 
 Towns & Par. Fein, Assc. 
 
 Amherst, (2d parish) 
 
 12 
 
 12 
 
 
 
 Chester, 
 
 4 
 
 80 
 
 
 
 Chesterfield, 
 Deerfield, (2d parish) 
 
 12 
 
 12 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 54 
 
 
 
 Granville, (East do ) 
 
 11 
 
 00 
 
 
 
 do. (middle do.) 
 
 4 
 
 79 
 
 
 
 Hatfield, 
 
 35 
 
 19 
 
 6 
 
 50 
 
 Longmeadow, 
 
 17 
 
 67 
 
 
 
 Mouson, 
 
 Northampton, 
 
 10 
 
 53 
 
 24 
 
 08 
 
 53 
 
 00 
 
 19 
 
 08 
 
 Sunderland, 
 
 16 
 
 26 
 
 
 
 South Hadley, 
 
 6 
 
 79 
 
 
 
 Southampton, 
 Springfield, (1st parish) 
 
 25 
 
 50 
 
 19 
 
 90 
 
 
 
 56 
 
 28 
 
 West Springfield, (1st parish) 
 
 22 
 
 00 
 
 20 
 
 92 
 
 Westhampton, 
 
 26 
 
 65 
 
 9 
 
 59 
 
 Williamsburgh, 
 
 15 
 
 10 
 
 9 
 
 28 
 
 Wilbraham, (South parish) 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 
 
 
 Westfield, 
 
 
 
 33 
 
 40 
 
 
 $285 
 
 06 
 
 $199 
 
 03 ! 
 
 FROM NEW SETTLEMENTS. 
 
 By Rev. Philip Spaulding, from Windham 
 Society 6,00; Mr. H. Burnap 26 cents; 
 Winhall Society 6,00; his own donation 
 2,74, 
 
 By Rev. James Parker, from congregational 
 
 society in 20,00; Church in Sheldon 
 
 12,00; Kelleyvale 16,00; Westfield 12,00; 
 Troy 20,00, 
 
 15 00 
 
 80 00 
 
 5 
 
 Carried over $95 00 $1137 04 
 
Brought over $9 5 00 £11^7 0 > 
 By Rev. Royal Fhelps, from I.e Bceuf, Pa. 
 
 3,00; of T. R. Hawley, Esq. of Jefferson, 
 
 Ohio 1,00, 4 00 
 
 By Rev. MR Strong, received from people 
 
 among whom he labored in Ohio, 250 00 
 
 By Rev. Josiah Peet, individuals in Madison, 1 1 00 
 By Rev. Fifield Holt, from people in Anson, 
 
 Dinsmore neighborhood 6,00; Atkins 6,00, 12 00 
 By Rev. Asa Brooks, on old subscription in 
 
 Tiger’s Valley, Va. 9,35, 9 35 
 
 Total in New Settlements 
 
 Amount received for Books sold, 
 
 From Union Charitable Society of Monson, Palmer, 
 
 Western, Brimfield and Holland, by Geo. Bliss, 
 
 Jr. Esq. Treasurer, 
 
 DfRev. William Strong, balance of account, 
 
 From a friend, by Rev. S. Williams, 
 
 “ Hon. E. Starkweather, 
 c< Females in Whately, by Miss Judith White, 
 
 Received for interest on money loaned 6,72, inter- 
 est on fund 257,46, 
 
 “ Principal of a note. 
 
 From Easthampton Benevolent Society by Mr. 
 
 Isaac Clapp, 
 
 From a friend to missions by Rev. S. Williams, 
 
 From Female Charitable Society in Norwich, by 
 Miss M. W. Knight, 
 
 Contribution at the Annual Meeting, 
 
 S2310 53 
 
 1). S. Whitney, Treasurer, Cr. 
 
 By Cash paid for the following Books and Pamphlets: — 
 
 30 Willison on the Sacraments 10,00; 50 Christian 
 Almanacks’ 3,12; 12 .looks’ Devotion 8,00; 127 
 Baxter’s Saint’s Rest 63,50; 71 Psalm Books 20,12; 
 
 60 Mason on Self Knowledge 14,00; 52 Baxter’s 
 Call 13,50: Sabbath School Books of the Deposi- 
 tory 143,64; 10 sets Tracts, bound (6 vols. each) 
 
 28,80; 1-3 of bill of books bought on credit in 1821 
 49,87; 10 Memoir of Harriet Newell 4,76; 3 Prac- 
 tical Piety 1,95; 20 Thoruton on Repentance 9,37; 
 
 2 sets Burdev’s Village Sermons 2,00, 372 9 j 
 
 34 32 
 
 21 3G 
 1 75 
 5 00 
 3 00 
 
 13 30 
 
 264 IS 
 349 00 
 
 i 9 45 
 50 00 
 
 14 00 
 26 78 
 
 Carried up £372 9? 
 
3.) 
 
 Brought up $372 93 
 
 interest, Freight, Postage, Stationary, Printing 
 
 Reports and advertising, 77 82 
 
 TO THE FOLLOWING MISSIONARIES; 
 
 Rev. James Parker, for mission of 1821, 160 00 
 
 Rev. Samuel Parker on 1821, 52 00 
 
 Rev. Philip Spaulding for 1821, 80 00 
 
 Rev. Isaac Clinton on 1821, 4 20 
 
 Rev. Royal Phelps 1820&. 1821, 160 00 
 
 Rev. William Strong 1819-20, 253 75 
 
 Rev. Filield Holt 1821, 80 00 
 
 Rev. Josiah Peet 1821, 80 00 
 
 Rev. Thomas Williams 1321, 80 00 
 
 Rev. Asa Brooks on 1821,' 78 42 
 
 Rev. Horace Smith on 1822-3, 124 00 
 
 Rev. Ludovicus Robbins on 1822-3, 24 00 
 
 $1176 39 
 
 By Cash loaned for a good note od interest, 100 00 
 
 Cash on hand per Audit, 583 41 
 
 S3310 53 
 
 Northampton , Avgust 22, 1822. 
 The Auditor of the Hampshire Missionary Society has per- 
 formed the duties incident to his appointment, and Reports; 
 
 That he finds the Treasurer’s Accounts regularly kept, truly 
 cast, and well vouched, and that there are in the Treasury in 
 promissory notes on interest, well secured, the sum of four 
 thousand three hundred and three dollars — In money on hand 
 five hundred and eighty-three dollars and forty-one centST- 
 Also, Ten shares in the Massachusetts Fire and Marine Insur- 
 ance Company — Also, a Certificate of the Executors of the 
 last Will and Testament of Rev. Alvan Sanderson, of a bequest 
 in his Will of two hundred dollars, payable June 22, 1823. 
 
 3 , H. LYMAN, Auditor. 
 
D. S. Whitney, Treasurer, in new account, 
 
 To amount of Cash on hand from old account per 
 audit, August 22, 1822, 
 
 To cash received from Female Association in West 
 Springfield, 1st parish, 
 
 “ “ from Hadley contribution, 
 
 “ for Books sold, 
 
 “ “ by Rev. Philip Spaulding of Mr. 
 
 John Rice, Somerset 50 cts.; of Dea. Asa White, 
 Mount Holly 1,00; of Dea. Fitch, Dover 4,00; 
 Weston, church and society 4,00; Peru, church 
 and society 4,00; Stratton, church and society 
 12,00; Winhalt, church and society 16,00; for 
 Books sold 1,52 
 
 Dr. 
 
 583 41 
 
 10 22 
 14 44 
 7 30 
 
 43 02 
 
 658 39 
 
 Female Association, Dr. 
 
 Aug. 22, 1822. To cash paid for Books, see ab- 
 stract of Treasurer’s account, 372 93 
 
 To cash paid for printing Report of 1821, 30 00 
 
 do freight of and packages for Books, 29 26 
 
 432 19 
 
 Balance carried to new account, 1066 58 
 
 §1498 77 
 
 Contra, Cr. 
 
 By balance from old account, 1123 05 
 
 Cash on hand after audit 1821, and then reported, 87 87 
 
 Interest on the above for nine months, 54 50 
 
 Cash received since audit of 1821, 199 03 
 
 Cash received for Books sold, 34 32 
 
 §1498 77 
 
 Books, Pamphlets, &c. distributed or sq1(1. 
 
 68 sets Cooper’s Sermons — 13 sets Village do. 
 
 166 Doddridge’s Rise and Progress, 
 
 1 10 Vincent’s Catechism — 102 Baxter’s Call, 
 
37 
 
 114 Baxter’s Saint’s Rest — 4 Taggart’s View, 
 
 7 Scott's Force of Truth — 12 Jenks’ Devotion, 
 
 54 Mason on Self Knowledge, 
 
 99 Watts’ Psalms and Hymns — 105 Bibles^, 
 
 10 sets Tracts bound, (6 vols. each,) 
 
 31 Willison’s Works, 
 
 2 Hawies on Communion, 
 
 19 Thornton on Repentance — 3 Practical Piety, 
 
 10 Harriet Newell— 890 Evangelical Primers, 
 
 4546 Sabbath School Books for instruction and rewards, 
 Reports, other pamphlets, &c. 
 
 El 190 pages New England Tracts in pamphlets. 
 
 Donations received in Books and Pamphlets. 
 
 100 Bibles, donation from Mr. Charles Tappan, of Boston, 
 
 2 Hawies on Communion, i 
 
 1 Baxter’s Call, > from E. Merriam, of Brookfield. 
 
 1 Willison’s Works, ) 
 
 24 Address of Doddridge to the master of a family, from 
 William Butler, of Northampton, 
 
 1 Horn on Missions received by Rev. Philip Spaulding, in 
 Vermont. 
 
 THE COMMITTEE HAVE PURCHASED, 
 
 106 Vincent’s Catechism, > on a credit of one year 
 
 33 Doddridge’s Family Address, $ without interest. 
 
38 
 
 OFFICERS FOR THE CURRENT YEAR. 
 TRUSTEES. 
 
 Rev. JOSEPH LYMAN, D.D. President. 
 
 Rev. SOLOMON WILLIAMS, Vice-President*. 
 
 Rev. ENOCH HALE, 
 
 NATHANIEL SMITH, Esq. 
 
 ETHAN ELY, Esq. 
 
 Rev. TIMOTHY M. COOLEY, 
 
 ELISHA BILLINGS, Esq. 
 
 Rev. JONATHAN GROUT, 
 
 SYLVESTER JUDD, Esq-. 
 
 WILLIAM PORTER, Esq. 
 
 ISAAC C. BATES, Esq. 
 
 Rev. ALFRED ELY. 
 
 Mr. DAVID S. WHITNEY, Treasurer. 
 
 Rev. ENOCH HALE, Corresponding Secretary. 
 Rev. PAYSON WILLISTON, Recording Secretary. 
 
 COMMITTEE OF THE TRUSTEES. 
 
 Rev. JOSEPH LYMAN, D. D. 
 
 Rev. SOLOMON WILLIAMS, 
 
 Rev. ENOCH HALE, 
 
 Rev. VINSON GOULD, 
 
 Mr. DAVID S. WHITNEY. 
 
 AUDITING COMMITTEE, 
 
 IIqn. JONATHAN H. LYMAN, 
 
 Mr. ELIPHALET WILLIAMS. 
 

 
 
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