all the means of which he could avail | sion more in the department of Aisne, himself to raise the standard into the sight of the people. The place where meetings were holden on the Sabbath was small, however, and was not considered an eligible situation. The attendance was between twenty and thirty, who seemed attached to the place and to br. Devan. If a failure ensue, it will not be for want of activity on his part. The field is one of great difficulty.

Association of French Baptists.

On the 6th of June the brethren of the mission met at Verberie, to hold the first Association of French Baptists. This is the central and principal station of our br. Crètin. He is one of the most energetic and resolute of men; his influence is widely felt in the department

of Oise.

prosper

them.

young

where the field seemed most promising. Some of the brethren were called from their former stations, and placed in new positions. It appeared to be best to fill this department with " this doctrine," and endeavor ere long to raise up some selfsustaining churches. The brethren are beginning to make some contributions to the cause of Christ from their great penury.

I saw enough of br. Willard's strength and force here to convince me that his place could not be supplied. The whole mission depend on him, while he makes them depend on themselves as much as possible. He knows the ground which he occupies, and the material which he has to work upon. It is surprising what he accomplishes, with the means afforded him. If we except the German, no mission is yielding a larger return for the present investment. This return is not to be counted in converts alone, for the two years past; though these have been nearly one hundred.

Suspension of labors at Paris.

Nearly all our laborers were gathered at this meeting. The various interests of the mission in France were discussed, and some course of action decided on in each case. The session was continued for several days; the discussions were spirited and earnest. The brethren all evinced deep interest in the progress of Soon after the close of this meeting at the work among their countrymen. The Verberie I left France, and was absent churches are agreed in their articles of more than two months. On my return, faith, which are very simple and evan- I reached Paris on the 21st of August. gelical. There were several Here I met letters from the Missionary brethren at this meeting, from whom Rooms in Boston, and learned some facts much is expected. May God spare and from Dr. Devan which inclined me to the opinion that he was called out of that field. There was no promise of advancement without a great increase of expenditure, and the appointment of an able native preacher. We knew of no one who could be put into that field, who was not already more usefully employed than he could be in Paris. The recent increase of interest in the south, in the department of Montbrison, seemed to open a door for Dr. Devan, and, after earnest prayer to God for direction, and consultation with the missionary brethren, it was thought best to suspend operations at Paris. All concurred in this opinion, and accordingly br. Devan It was deemed desirable at this meet- gave up the chapel and ceased preaching to concentrate the efforts of the mis-ing, the last of August.

I was much interested in seeing the whole force in this great field brought together. There was great diversity of character-each a most efficient actor in his way. M. Thieffry presided-M. Crètin was clerk. Br. Willard set the rest to work, and acted as a kind of balancewheel in the movements of the machinery. The state of things in the field, as a whole, was most gratifying. As they looked back a few years, all were constrained to say, "What has God wrought!"

Plan of future operations.

Ordination of M. Foulon-Genlis-The work Among those baptized were

advancing.

some in

whom the Lord has awakened the desire to make known the glad tidings. There were two sons of two of our

At the meeting of the Association in June, arrangements were made to ordain br. Foulon in August. The place select- most tried and faithful brethren. M. ed for the services was Genlis. The Foulon had the privilege of baptizing council met at Chauny, the residence of his brother-in-law, the son of our dear M. Lepoids. The examination was deep- br. Besin. The presence of the pioneers ly interesting. The way in which the in this work of evangelization added candidate was led to break off his not a little to the pleasure felt by others. connection with the Catholic church, the M. Thieffry, M. Hersigny, and last, but feeling with which he regarded his coun- not least, Esther Carpentier, witnesstrymen who were under the influence of ed and participated in these scenes. This their superstitions, the desire he had to was a high day to these pioneers in the preach the truth to them, and the clear work. They saw and heard with great view he had of the plan of salvation, delight. The visions of the dark night were all witnesses to the genuineness of of persecution were now coming to pass, the work on his heart. The Council and the predictions which the most sanwere more than satisfied with his rela-guine had scarcely dared to utter, were tion, and voted to proceed to his ordina- here fulfilled. Esther Carpentier had tion. M. Crètin was to preach the sermon, M. Lepoids to give the charge, M. Pruvots the hand of fellowship, and M. Thieffry to offer the ordaining prayer. Br. Willard had for the first time put upon the brethren all the work. They had much fear, but consented to undertake it.

In the morning, at an early hour, we repaired to Genlis. The old chapel, erected many years since by br. Hersigny, was already open, and preparations for the service were in progress. The chapel was crowded with persons who seemed to be interested in the prospect of hearing the truth. After an interesting sermon from br. Crètin, and when the other services of ordination were concluded, eight persons presented themselves for baptism; after proper examination they were all received. The ordinance was administered by br. Foulon. This service was rendered the more interesting by the presence of a pastor of a National church, who seemed to be entirely engrossed in what was passing. The place was enclosed, and there were few present except the disciples.

The services of this day were all deeply interesting. The brother who received ordination is generally beloved, and much is expected from his faithful labors.

scattered much seed in this field, when the densest gloom of night was resting on it, and when it was but an arid waste. The showers from heaven had at length fallen, and the seed had sprung up and bore fruit, like that which the sower cast into good ground. The now ripening harvest demands a multitude of laborers.

LETTER OF DR. DEVAN.

The reader will have noted in the preceding letter from Mr. Parker an allusion to some unfavorable influences in the way of Dr. Devan's continuance at Paris, and to his contemplated transfer to a more promising field of labor. At a conference held by him

with the members of the mission, at his last

visit to Douai, the plan of discontinuing the Parisian effort came up for special consideration; and in view of its various bearings, it received their unanimous approval, and at a subsequent period the sanction of the ExeDr. Devan relates the measures taken to carcutive Committee. The following letter from ry out the plan, showing at the same time, that amidst all his discouragements, the labor bestowed by him at Paris has not been in vain. The letter is dated at Paris, Sept. 9.

Labors closed at Paris.

It having been agreed in a conference held at Douai, Aug. 29, that the mission effort at Paris should be suspended, I gave notice to that effect immediately on my

return to the city, and I announced that the following Lord's day would be the last in which public services would be held.

there be no instrumentality now to cultivate the field.

During the thirteen months in which religious services have been steadily and perseveringly held in Paris, God has permitted me to bury by baptism into the likeness of the Saviour's death five willing souls in this city, of whom three are men and two are women. I leave two others unbaptized, though I trust they also have tasted of the heavenly gift of a Redeem

On that occasion my little chapel was pretty well filled, and after endeavoring to impress upon the people the duty of an entire obedience to all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, I, as solemnly as I could, bade them adieu, referring, as the next place of our reassembling, to the great tribunal of our Judge on the last day, where each must render his ac-er's love during the said period. I have count-I, for what I had taught them, and they, for the effect that such instructions had exerted upon them. A great part of my auditory were in tears.

Results of labor.

As I afterwards passed among my people to give them a parting hand, I was called aside by one, who said that he had something to say to me. His request was for baptism. I appointed that same evening for his examination by the brethren, and named (in case of their approval of the person,) a neighboring village, where I intended to hold a meeting during the week, as a place of rendezvous for my examination of the candidate. This man is a fruit of the out-station at Suresne, where, you are aware, services have been regularly sustained since February last. That he has been brought from darkness to light none of us can reasonably doubt, though he is, as may well be imagined from the fact that he has lived forty years in the bosom of Romanism, a mere babe in spiritual things.

He requested baptism, and I could not deny him. Accordingly, on Thursday evening, Sept. 6, it being the last meeting I held with this dear people, I baptized him. It was not convenient to have the ordinance administered at Suresne, though there were some circumstances that might have rendered it advisable. The last meeting I held there, which was the evening previous, I was struck with the attention-not to say anxiety for instruction-which marked the persons assembled. I hope that the seed there sown may yet bear glorious fruit, though

not baptized them because one of them thinks there is a misunderstanding, which she has not yet had an opportunity to explain away, between herself and another Christian; the other is under a spiritual cloud of late, and would not like in such a condition to receive the ordinance.

A subsequent letter informs us that Dr. Devan has since visited the church at St. Etienne, and made such arrangements there as will supersede the necessity of his removing to that neighborhood till early spring.

LETTER OF MR. WILLARD.

Ministerial Conference-Baptism at Chery.

Oct. 13. Before leaving Chauny, on the occasion of M. Foulon's ordination, I proposed to the brethren to form a ministerial conference. The idea pleased them, and it was agreed that the first meeting should be holden Oct. 3, with br. Lefevre, at Chery.

It being necessary for me to go to Chauny once more, I decided to take the rail, though a roundabout way, for the purpose of gaining time. But Providence ordered the affair otherwise, so that, in consequence of unheard of contrarieties, instead of arriving at Chauny at six o'clock the same day, I was not at Noyon till 8 o'clock, and passed the night there; and the next morning, not having time to see M. Lepoids, without losing my passage, I contrived to send him word that I had passed, and went directly to La Fère. A few rods from M. Foulon's I met M. Lefevre, who had come with a

horse and cart for me, there being yet berie. I passed the night there, and five leagues to go, and no public convey- came home the next day.

ance.

During this journey and visit I saw all our agents but M. Thieffry, who was detained in the north by sickness in his family. I visited Messrs. Lefevre, Foulon, Lepoids, and Crètin, and became acquainted with the state of things in general, which is truly encouraging. I reached home also without being so sick

We were soon joined by Messrs. Lepoids, Crètin, and Besin, at M. Foulon's, and after dinner M. Lepoids and myself took a seat in M. Lefevre's cart and started for Chery-riding the last league in a hard rain, sheltered only by an umbrella. M. Pruvots had arrived, and there was a man also from Barenton, named David, a candidate for baptism. as to have need to take the bed-a rare M. Lefevre had appointed a meeting for occurrence with me; yet at M. Lefevre's 4 o'clock that afternoon, to examine se- I slept two nights in a room whose veral candidates, but the foul weather brick floor is never dry, and in which prevented all but M. David from coming; there is never a fire; in returning from him we examined, and M. Pruvots bap- Chery I encountered tempest and rain tized him about nine o'clock, the rain without a cloak and unsheltered; and at falling continually. Verberie my incessant and late talking fatigued me so much that I could not sleep. Indeed, during the whole absence of six days, I was continually talking, the weather was continually very bad and cold, and cholera and sweating sickness everywhere. I was never more deeply

The next morning we organized our meeting, and listened to a dissertation from 1 Peter 4: 6, by M. Lefevre. M. Thieffry, who was to give us a dissertation upon the scripture doctrine of expiation by Jesus Christ, was not present. In the afternoon, M, Lepoids preached, impressed with the idea of the divine pro and immediately after the sermon we re-tection and blessing. sumed our sitting, and continued it four hours. This was the beginning of a series of meetings which will cease probably when there shall be no more Baptists in France, and will, I trust, do more for the brethren and the churches than any meetings we have ever had before.

I left Chery early on foot, expecting to continue thus quite to La Fère; but at the first village, Pouilly, where we stopped for Messrs. Crètin and Louvet, who passed the night there, the husband of one of our sisters offered to carry me a part of the way in his horse cart. We were soon on the way. The man who conducted me would go quite to La Fère. For more than half the distance we had on our right the broad and verdant meadows on either side of the Serre, beautiful as Eden. At 5 P.M. I left La Fère, for Chauny, three leagues distant. The next morning br. Doumin came to see me. He is located at Sinceny, only three-fourths of an hour from Chauny, and is actively engaged in the work. M. Crètin and myself left Chauny at 10 A. M. on the 5th, for Ver

MAULMAIN BURMAN MISSION.

LETTER OF MR. STEVENS..

Additions to the church.

Aug. 5, 1849. Three persons have recently been baptized in this town by Mr. Judson, respecting whom one or two particulars, I doubt not, will be interesting. All the three are heads of families. One is the wife of Moung Kalah, daughter of Ko A, of the village of Kaudote, mentioned in my journal recently sent you (pp. 398-402, last vol.).

One is a man from Myay-dai, a town on the Irrawaddy, some distance below Shway Doung. In that place he has a wife and two children, whom he left, to come on a trading excursion to this place. Here he fell in with the native assistants, particularly Moung Shway Moung, (who went to America,) in whose house he was entertained for some weeks, together with an uncle of his from the same place.

dark place," and surely undermining the bulwarks of heathenism.

The truths of the gospel, which he here heard daily, so interested him that he determined to leave the company of tradThe third individual baptized is ers with whom he came down, and be- Moung Net, who has been a resident of come a Christian. Accordingly he gave Maulmain for the last six years. Ten up selling goods, labored as a cooly to sup-years ago he obtained a book—probably port himself, spent his evenings in read- a bound volume of tracts-from some one ing, and attended the regular chapel ser- of his countrymen, whether a disciple or The individual, he vices for some weeks, until the church, not he knows not. considering the evidence of his conver- says, recommended it as a good book. sion sufficiently satisfactory, received him He read it, and was interested. Being for baptism. After his baptism, he was then a sailor on board a small vessel desirous of remaining here during the trading between Rangoon and Calcutta, rains, and studying the Scriptures; but as he took care of the book, reading in he had already been absent about a year his leisure moments, both at sea and when from his family, it was on the whole in port. Finally he was so much interdeemed best for him to return home for ested in what he read, that he proposed the present. He has accordingly gone to his wife to remove to Maulmain, in orback, not, however, without many prayers der that they might hear more of this and anxieties on his account, for he will religion. A dream which she had, howrequire much grace to enable him to ever, shortly after, caused her to decline maintain the profession of Christ which the proposition. But she soon died, and he has made, in the midst of the idolaters thus left him at liberty. He removed to of his home, exposed to the cruelty and Maulmain, still following the sea, and caprice of Burman rulers. There is, after a time took for a wife the daughter however, one favorable circumstance in of one of the headmen of the town, and his case. thus made very numerous and respectable connections. These proved a snare to

Myaydai-Power of the written word-Moung him, for they being very much opposed

Net.

to Christianity, he was long deterred from following Christ. He supplied himself with books, notwithstanding, and made them his companions at sea; and while in port he constantly attended chapel, but uniformly came by a back that he might not be observed.

Confessing Christ before men.

In Myaydai there is an unusually large number of the Paramat sect, who reject the divinity of Gaudama, and also images and pagodas; and the governor himself is favorable to them. According to the representations which we have repeated-way, ly heard from that quarter, it would seem that those people clearly perceive the I first became acquainted with Moung errors of Boodhism, but are yet ignorant Net while Mr. Judson was in America, of the true way of life. Who knows but and the pastoral care of the Burmese our friend, who has just returned among church was devolving on me. He then them, may be the means of saving light came to my house on one occasion, after to some? Will not our brethren at home the usual Sabbath morning service was pray that this may be the result? He over, and inquired if he might not be a has taken with him for distribution a bun- Christian without being baptized. I addle of books and tracts, which we have mired the frankness of his countenance, reason to believe will be received with a and marked the timidity depicted on it, good degree of favor in that region. We but I told him plainly, Christ has said, if have learned that there and in other we be ashamed of him, he also will be places, tracts and bibles, which have pre- ashamed of us. He was not yet able viously been distributed, are silently to take so decided a stand for Christ, and doing their work," shining as a light in a retired. He continued to attend service