of God, and many who were reclaimed from a lukewarm or backsliden state, with many more who were encouraged to seek a deeper work of grace, exhibited themselves before the congregation. Our parting was very solemn and impressive. But we had to leave many poor souls in great distress. One poor man on his way home, fell down under the weight of his distress, but the Lord passed by and had mercy on him, and spoke comfort to his troubled mind. He was enabled to rise and go rejoicing home, publishing how great things the Lord had done for his soul. At this meeting we had good order, and we think many promising converts. This was by many pronounced the greatest CampMeeting ever witnessed in this part of the world. As an evidence of the liberality of the people, I will mention, that a collection was taken up, amounting to $130, to purchase a horse for one of the preachers, who had had the misfortune to loose his at the meeting. From thence we went directly to another Camp-Meeting, appointed in Greenwood township, Northumberland circuit. But the drought being so great, and the water failing at the place where it was first appointed, it was thought necessary to prepare another place about three miles off. Here, in a short time, we accommodated ourselves as well as circumstances would admit, and began our meeting on Thursday evening, the 5th instant, in the name of the Lord. On Saturday evening we had seventy-seven tents; but those who came in time "had a mind to work," and soon put things in Camp-Meeting order. We were glad to find that we had more ministerial help than we had calculated on, and the Lord favoured us with His smiles. On Saturday night the crowd was so great, and a little disposed to be unruly, that we thought best not to call the mourners into the altar, but preached and exhorted from the stand till between 10 and 11 o'clock, when those who had no accommodation on the ground were requested to depart; and we advised our friends to repair to their tents and go to rest. On Sunday there must have been from six to seven thousand people on the ground; but, by divine aid, we were able to controul this vast crowd, and preserve uncommonly good order. Sunday night, we are persuaded, will be remembered by many in time and in eternity. I suppose fifty came forward to be prayed for, and many were justified through the blood of the Lamb. But Monday the 9thO blessed Monday! can we ever forget that solemn-that happy day, when we baptized twenty-two adults, and administered the blessed eucharist to three hundred and sixty-six humble, weeping communicants, when a solemn sense of God rested upon the whole assembly, and hundreds seemed to say this place is holy, for God is here! The work went on the whole day, and that night exceeded any thing that many of us had ever seen. Oh! the rich displays of mighty grace. Oh! the overwhelming show ers of divine influence that came down upon us like mighty torrents, and bore down all before it. No triflers were to be seen on the ground, hardened sinners looked serious, and those who were unwilling to yield, appeared alarmed, and seemed to say, "Shall we be conquered!" and "must we surrender!" We calculate that from eighty to one hundred were converted at this meeting, beşide those who went away deeply convinced of sin; and they were not a few. Our parting was very solemn and orderly, and many carried the flame to their respective societies and neighbourhoods. Brother Thomas told me there were several converted at his meeting that week, and ten or twelve presented themselves as humble seekers at our quarterly meeting, on the following Sunday. On Monday night brother Thomas and brother Barry had a meeting in Brier-Creek Meeting-House, when about twenty were in deep distress of soul; twelve or fourteen of whom professed to find the Lord in the pardon of their sins. Surely this is the work of God. In passing through six circuits, I baptized forty-four adults, and may safely say, that more than two hundred souls have been brought to God, besides a number more under strong conviction and earnestly seeking the Lord. As to the subjects of this work, they are mostly young people; and many of them children of the Methodists, perhaps the majority of them are males. As to the work itself, it appears to be deep and solid, and evidently of God. The word was directed with peculiar energy to the hearts of the people, and many said they never heard such preaching. Never once, that I recollect, was a speaker interrupted, or his voice drowned by the outcry of the people; but seriousness rested upon the congregation, and great attention was paid to the word. We have long been convinced that the singing those little things, called Camp-Meeting Songs, and the effects produced by them, have, upon the whole, proved a great injury to the work of religion, and a stumblingblock to many serious people. We therefore discouraged the singing of them at all our Camp-Meetings, and strongly recommended the singing of our excellent hymns. The consequence was, this work was attended with very little extravagance; and we now see that the work can go on without them. I have since heard that about fourteen more were converted at a prayer-meeting in Bald-Eagle circuit, and we hope the flame is still spreading. Respectfully yours, H. SMITH. PROGRESS OF THE WORK OF GOD ON HUDSON-RIVER DISTRICT, To the Editors of the Methodist Magazine. DEAR BRETHREN, BELIEVING that the interest of souls and the prosperity of the Redeemer's cause lie near your hearts, and that information on these topics is at all times acceptable, I transmit to you the following intelligence, that, if you think it worthy, you may give it a place in your excellent Miscellany. The supreme head of the church has done great things for us on the Hudson-River District during the last three years. There has been in that time an increase of more than two thousand souls; and the work of God is still spreading through the district. We have been much favoured with respect to harmony: it has prevailed very generally in the official department. Factions have had no place among us. The preachers seem much in the spirit of reformation, and are zealous to preach and defend the doctrines of truth. There have been about six hundred members received on Jefferson circuit within sixteen months. Also about two hundred on Coeymans circuit since our last Annual Conference. The prospect is particularly favourable in New-Durham, where Dr. Barrett has laboured with great success. Since our last Annual Conference, we have held two highly fa voured Camp-Meetings on this district. The first was held in Stamford, on Jefferson circuit, and commenced on the 27th of June. This meeting opened under the most auspicious circumstances. The weather was favourable, the people were alive to God, and the great master of assemblies was eminently present. The first sermon that was delivered, by brother Eames, was preached with great liberty and power. On being dismissed from the stand, the people immediately repaired to an altar at the upper part of the ground, where they united in prayer; and this first prayer-meeting was singularly owned and blessed of God-many souls found redemption through "the precious blood of Christ." Our people entered into the spirit of the work the first day, and they progressed with increasing ardour until the meeting was dismissed. Every prayer-meeting witnessed new tokens and displays of divine mercy; not one is recollected in which was not heard the language, "The dead's alive, the lost is fouud." So true are the words of St. James, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." The brethren in the ministry preached, exhorted, and prayed, with liberty and effect: every one seemed ambitious of excelling in getting nearest to, and in doing most for, God and truth. It were a poor compliment to say of these brethren, that they preached well; they preached in the "demonstration of the spirit and in power." The unconverted were either awed into silence and order, or were converted to God; for we had little or no opposition. The beneficial results of this meeting are great, and cannot be fully estimated until the day of final decision. Those best acquainted with the subject, and who tried to ascertain the number that found mercy, have estimated it at one hundred. The presence and approbation of God were displayed in a very peculiar manner. When we assembled before the stand the last time, all were constrained to say, How dreadful is this place! and many were unable to leave the ground for some time after the benediction was pronounced. Our second Camp-Meeting commenced in Durham, on the Coeymans circuit, the 2d and closed on the 6th of September. What has been said concerning the engagedness, the liberty, and the perseverance of preachers and people at Stamford, is equally true of those at Durham. We found it equally difficult here as at Stamford to determine with exactness the number who professed to obtain justification, as hundreds left the ground the night before we closed our meeting. It was, however, ascertained that there were fifty-five on the ground when we assembled for the last time, who professed to have obtained this blessing. At the commencement of this meeting we were much annoyed by a band of thoughtless and irreligious young men, who had previously concerted plans for disturbing or breaking up our meeting; but by prompt and vigorous measures their wicked intentions were happily frustrated. After some of them had been brought to feel the iron-hand of the law, the rest became so infuriate as to threaten to put fire to the camp. But he that sitteth in the heavens laughed, the Lord had them in derision. A gracious God sent us a rain sufficiently copious to prevent the meditated conflagration. "He is a present help in the time of trouble." Some of the sermons delivered at this meeting were attended with a peculiar unction from above. Exhortation and prayer immediately succeeded preaching before the stand, when mourners from the congregation either voluntarily presented themselves, or were brought forward by their friends to be prayed for. These scenes, which occasioned so much joy to the humble believer, seemed to impress the unconverted with a sense of the presence of God, and with a conviction of the reality of our professed enjoyments. At this meeting some, who had long been seeking, were induced to strive as in an agony, and they found salvation through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. One person in particular, who had been seeking nearly twelve months, at this meeting found the object of his pursuit. By way of conclusion, I beg the liberty to remark, that the blessed results of Camp-Meeting, do fully justify the wisdom and piety which first led to their adoption, and also of those who still lend them their zealous and persevering support. Thousands in heaven and thousands on earth are now, I believe, enjoying the happy effects of these meetings. Every objection to them, which has come to my knowledge, is easily traced to ignorance, to skepticism, or to bigotry. That the Christian denomination to which we have the honour to belong, may ever know how to appreciate and how to improve this distinguished means of grace, is the prayer, dear brethren, Milton, Oct. 10, 1822. Of yours sincerely, EBEN SMITH. MISSION AMONG THE CHEROKEE INDIANS. DEAR BROTHER, THIS is to inform you and the Missionary Society, that some of the Cherokee Indians have received the word of life and become members of our church. A favourable opportunity now appears for the establishment of a mission among them, and the Tennessee Conference have resolved that it shall be done. Andrew J. Crawford is accordingly appointed a missionary to labour among them for the present year, and I hope and trust his labours will not be in vain. Many of these Indians understand and speak English, and have requested that we would give them religious instruction, and teach the rising generation among them, as we do among our own people. It is intended as far as practicable to pursue this course. The plan will require but moderate expense, the Indians themselves will bear a part, and subscriptions will also be raised within the bounds of this Conference. I am, as ever, yours in Christ, Green-County, Oct. 21, 1822. ENOCH GEORGE. P. S. The Tennessee Conference is near the close of its session. Peace and harmony have prevailed. The prospects are good. The increase of members is rising three thousand, and thirty-nine candidates for the ministry were admitted on trial. E. G. * Obituary. For the Methodist Magazine. MISS HARRIET HOWELL, whose vic- hand. In this state I visited her, and found she possessed great peace of soul and a strong confidence in the Lord, and was greatly absorbed in prayer and praise. In a few hours time she thought she was dying, and sent for me again. When I entered the room, and inquired how she was, she raised her hands, eyes and voice, with one accord, and proclaimed aloud, "I am going fast,-glory to God." I seated myself, and with my pencil minuted down the following expressions as they fell from her lips: "O," said she, "it's nothing to diegetting ready is all-glory to God I feel am now ready, and don't care how soon. I have now been eight days sick. O what a trifle to be sick so short a time, and then go to rest; but had I been more faithful, O! what great riches would now have been laid up in heaven |