For the Evangelical Guardian,

Mr. Editor: Having fufilled my appointment to St. Louis, I ask the favor of your periodical to spread before your readers some facts and considerations, which may not be wholly useless and uninteresting. I left home on Monday, May 27th, and, although subject to a delay of 29 hours at Cincinnati, and to another of about 12 hours at Louisville, reached St. Louis the following Saturday by noon, having trayelled by land and water a distance of nearly 800 miles. Our return was even more speed y:---St. Louis was left on Tuesday at 12 o'clock, and, notwithstanding a delay at Louisville of 14 hours. and one of 8 hours at Cincinnati, Oxford was reached Saturday at 4 o'clock P. M. What facilities do the improvements of the present day furnish for the spread of the Gospel! Jesus Christ consecrates to his own use the genius of a Fulton, and of hundreds and thousands of others, whether, in their investigations and in their discoveries and inventions, they did, or did not, seek His glory. The fruits, in many cases of "swift meseven unsanctified genius, enable His ministers to go as sengers" to all parts of the globe, bearing that gospel, which is a treasure more precious than all the merchandize of the world.

On the boat going to St. Louis were several ministerial brethren, and one ruling elder, and one student of Theology, all of the Associate Reformed Church: also a Congregationalist minister with his lady. At Louisville several members of the General Assembly, both ministers and elders, came on board. Immediately after leaving Cincinnati, evening worship was introduced, and kept up every evening till we arrived at our destined port. Twice, at 3 o'clock P. M. we had preaching, once by an Old School Presbyterian brother, and once by myself, on both which occasions the psalms only were used in the version recognized by the Associate Reformed Church. To these religious exercises a respectful attendance was given by most on board. There was one young man in the company, a flaming Universalist, and said to be a Universalist preacher, who, though he waited on the service with marked attention, yet immediately after worship, assailed some of the company on their religious principles, with a good deal of bitterness, and at times was even profane. This he did the first evening, and several times afterwards, always immediately after the religious exercises. These exercises seemed to arouse the slumbering enmity of his nature. He was the only man who dared to show any opposition. But when the card-table was introduced, (which was not done till the night after we left Louisville,) our Universalist friend was at it quite as expert, and quite as deeply interested in the game, as any one there. Afterwards he was always one Before the of the company at the card-table, and generally a player. end of our journey he found his level, and ceased his disputes on religion. On the boat returning, there was but one minister besides myself---a New School Presbyterian. Nearly the whole company were strangers. Through the backwardness, or rather indifference, of the gentleman, who agreed to make the proper arrangements with the captain, no arrangement was made the first evening, till most of the company had retired. Religious exercises were afterwards introduced, and we had preaching twice, first by myself, and afterwards VOL. II.-No. 8

by a young man, member of the Old School Presbyterian Church who came on board at Louisvilie; on which exercises the whole company, including some professional gamblers, attended with a degree of order and solemnity, which was truly gratifying.

Both going and returning I distributed a number of religious Tracts which were kindly received, and many of which I had the satisfaction to know, were read. Compared withe state of things ten years ago there is a much greater, and an increasing, religious influence on our Steamboats. Rarely does a prudent attempt to introduce religious exercises on board meet with any resistance, either from the officers · of the boat, or the passengers. And a minister of the gospel can hardly find a more interesting field of usefulness, than is presented on a steamboat. The community, in midst of which he is there placed, consists chiefly of commercial and business men, men of enterprize, professional men, literary and scientific men, men of wealth, and of the influence which wealth gives, statesmen and others occupying high political stations, young men just setting out in life, emigrants to new countries, &c. &c. The religious influence exerted on a Steamboat, is an influence that spreads far and wide, and that rapidly. He, whose eyes run to and fro, beholding the evil and the good, and who traces all influences in their diversified operations, may see that influence radiating to every point of the compass, and in a few weeks, or even a few days, producing fruit in many places most remote from each other. Of the good done, we may know nothing till eternity reveal it; but still we should sow in faith and hope, "giving a portion to seven and also to eight," though we "know not which shall prosper." But it requires prudence, and a due consideration of circumstances to act successfully; and nothing should be attempted without seeking and looking for Divine guidance and support, and the Divine blessing. Ministers, who travel in this way should prepare themselves to be as useful as possible, and watch and be ready to embrace opportunities of doing good. I was grieved to see an amiable man, a New School Presbyterian minister, declining to preach, chiefly on the ground that he was accustomed to use notes, and he could not get along with them well on a steamboat. May our western ministers and students of Divinity live long before they avail themselves of the very enviable advantages of this improvement on the Pulpit, which comes recommended to us by the refinement of "the East." Let the head and the heart be well stored with the truths of the gospel, and animated with love to Christ and to souls, and let faith be exercised on Him who hath said, "Lo I am with you always," and the minister will not be at a loss for something to say.

As our boat lay at Louisville nearly a whole day on our way down the Ohio, 1 had the pleasure of spending a few hours in witnessing the procedings of the General Assembly, then in Session. The discussion on their most exciting topics was over. The subject, which chiefly occupied their attention during my stay, was the constitutionality of the rule of their Board of Education, requiring a pledge from beneficiaries of its being their intention to spend at least three years in the study of Theology. A noble rule. From the debate, (which was rather discursive,) it was apparent, that they, as well as other churches have to contend with that prurient zeal and impatience,

which leads a man to consider himself hardly dealt with, if with half a College education and a few months reading Theology, he is not admitted to preach the gospel. When a young man rushes forward thus impetuously, as if he thought that the salvatioh of the church, depended on his being at work in the ministry, he evidently cherishes a high estimate of his own abilities, and has a low sense of the responsibilities of the sacred office, and withal a bad opinion of his fathers in the ministry, and very little confidence in Jesus Christ. It is still worse, if a leading object should be to avail himself of the aid of the Domestic Missionary Fund, and thereby eke out a better summer salary, than he could do by school teaching. The wants of society, and the judgment of the grave, the wise and experienced portion of the church, call loudly for well-educated, thorough, humble, modest, devoted, and self-denying men to be introduced into the ministry. If candidates of a contrary description be encouraged, we need not be surprised, should we see the sources and the streams of our ecclesi-astical charities dried up.

ST. LOUIS.

In this place I spent five Sabbaths---the month of June, according to appointment; but was prevented by sickness from preaching on the fourth Sabbath. The city contains a population of from 35,000 to 40,000; and is a place of great commercial activity, chiefly in storage and commission. The visiter, on arriving, is struck with the large fleet of steamboats lying at its wharf; on an average not less than forty: which are employed on the upper and lower Mississippi, the Missouri and its tributaries, the Ohio and its tributaries. Besides boats constantly arriving and departing in all directions, there are daily lines to New Orleans, to Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh, and to Peoria for Chicago and the Lakes. St. Louis is already the commercial emporium of an immense region, whose resources are only beginning to be developed, and if no untoward occurrence prevent, must soon become the largest inland town in the United States. Its growth has been unprecedently rapid. In 1830 its population was only a little over six thousand. Most of its houses are new, and many of them. costly and superb.

The Catholic population is about 16,000. Of the remainder a large portion make no pretensions, and pay no regard, to religion. Yet the Protestant denominations occupy a respectable standing, and are increasing in numbers and influence. I collected same statistics, which at least approximate the truth, some of which I will lay before the reader. There are five Presbyterian churches, two of which are Old School, two New School, and one Free;---all together claiming about one thousand members:---Three Episcopal churches, respectable for number and influence. The Episcopalians are perhaps the most prominent among the Protestant denominations in the city. Kemper College a few miles from the city, and the medical school connected with it, in the city, are under their control. There are three or four Methodist churches, embracing nearly 1000 members. One New School, and one Old School Baptist society, numbering to

gether a little over two hundred. A German Evangelical church, and a Lutheran church, together comprising over four hundred. The Associate Reformed church has seventy members, and there are a few New and Old Light Covenanters. The African Baptists number 300 members, and the African Methodists, 200. In 1840 there were in St. Louis 1531 slaves and 531 free people of color. The number now is something greater. A few of the colored people are Catholics. and more are under Catholic instruction. The Unitarians have a small society, and the Universalists are striving to attract notice:---both of them systems of Christianity infidelized, the former adapted to the more cultivated and refined, the latter to the low and vulgar.

The professing members of all the Protestant denominations are not much above 3,000, and the population under any thing like an evangelical influence does not exceed 6,000, or at the most 8,000. The Protestant influence is gaining, and the state of morals consequently improving; but the christian cannot spend much time in the place without seeing much to deplore. But by proper exertions on the part of evangelical christians, the history of the past warrants the belief, that ere many years St. Louis may become the centre of a great and extensive religious and moral influence. As yet the Catholics have the ascendency. Their population is double that of all the evangelical churches together. They have built, and in building, six places of worship, large enough to accommodate their members, and as ma ny nominal Protestants besides as may be attracted by the drapery of their worship, or the splendor and richness of their temples. They have a University, including, besides the Literary, a Law, a Medical, and a Theological department; and all these departments, except the last, are attended by Protestant, as well as Catholic, youth. They have a free school in connection with the Cathredal, of 130 boys, another in connection with the University Chapel, of 400 boys, and 350 girls, and a German school of 100 scholars. They have an Orphan Asylum, one building for boys containing 64 children, and one for girls containing 50, under the immediate care of the sisters of charity. Also at the Convent of the sacred Heart are 30 orphan girls. The Protestant Orphan Asylum with its 12 or 15 children, contrasts shamefully with these institutions. The hospital is under Catholic control. There are nine public schools, 4 male, and 5 female, in all containing 670 pupils, from which through Catholic influence, the Bible is excluded. There are 34 sisters of Charity, and not less than 20 Jesuits, besides many other ecclesiastics. There are in the city nearly 50 select schools, averaging 25 or 30 scholars. These are chiefly under Protestant teachers.

From St. Louis to the mouth of the Ohio river, the Catholics have a strong hold at Kaskaskia, at St. Genevieve, and at Cape Girardeau. At the last named place they have a college. At various other points have they established themselves and made provision for the religious education and subjugation of the country. Whilst Protestants are divided, they are united: and by their charitable institutions, as well as by their schools and ably supported literary institutions, they make a favorable impression on the public mind, which is much increased by the wealth expended on their religious edifices, by the pomp of

their ceremonies, and by the show of religion and devotion in their daily public prayers. Their priests and nuns are exceedingly assidnous and devoted to their work. What an array of power does this system, combining, as it naturally does, with the tendencies of our depraved nature, present against the spread of the truth! How should Protestants be animated to zeal and diligence, and union, and prayer, and liberal exertions in the cause of Christ! Especially in the Mississippi valley! Romanism is not the only foe, with which a pure Bible Christ-anity has to contend. There are Infidelity, Universalism, and Pelagianism; and there are the common ungodliness, and the common worldliness, and the common viciousness of apostate human nature; to which all these corruptions of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ have a natural affinity, as they have to one another.

The Associate Reformed Church should awake and do her part in asserting and maintaining and extending Christ's dominion in this region. She has an open door, and she should enter. The church in St. Louis, which was organized about four years ago, has, considering the small number of its adherents at the time, the pecuniary embarrassments of the times, and the fact, that it has not as yet obtained a pastor, but has been entirely dependent on supplies, enjoyed an encouraging growth, is favorably known in the city, and with a suitable pastor under the Divine blessing, bids fair, in a few years, to become a large, influential, and, to the general interests of the Associate Reformed Church, an important congregation. Many circumstances favor its growth. The place is attracting, and will attract emigrants, who either belong to the Associate Reformed Church, or whose partialities are in its favor. Those already there have, many of them, connections in some of our large and city congregations East. Society is on the whole favorable to the growth of the Associate Church. Though in a slave-state, the fact that she makes slavery a term of communion, will operate more in her favor, than against her. The house of worship belonging to our people is advantageously located, and when completed, will be of such style and capacity as to suit the place. And, what is not of least importance, the members generally seem to take a deep interest in the prosperity of the church, are as a body a practical, intelligent, praying and spirited people, and though in various circunstances, and many of them in the humbler avocations of life, they are an industrious and thrifty people. Their house of worship is up and under cover. The rooms in the basement are finished; one of which, capable of holding 300 people, is pewed and fitted for public worship, and another is rented as a school-room for $250 a year. When they come to occupy the church, the rents of the basement will easily pay the leaserent on the ground. They are progressing slowly in finishing the house. Of something like $1400 pledged by the churches in this Synod, $400 remain unpaid. If this were paid, and if the churches in the First Synod were to contribute as liberally in proportion to their number and strength, they could go on and complete their building immediately without risk or difficulty. And there is no reason, why that Synod should not feel as deeply interested in the prosperity of our cause in St. Louis, as the Second Synod. We are one body. Most of the members of the St.