The wisdom and love of our Father display.
"But I'm tired," says one, of these jingling rhymes.
Ah, ha! then I'll hasten and finish betimes.

A parson once said, as the old story goes,
It was easy to preach but harder to close;

And finding it hard, my brave Knights of the Plow,
To close with fit words, I will close with a bow..

CORRESPONDENCE FROM ILLINOIS.

From the Home Missionary, published by the Committee of the American Home Missionary Society, New York, January, 1844.

HISTORY OF CHURCHES IN ADAMS COUNTY.

We have deemed it important, as far as practicable, to collect and put in some accessible form, the early history of the churches in the West, before they are lost and forgotten in the changes to which every new country is subject. The following account of the churches in Adams county, Illinois, is from a son of New England, who has resided for a number of years in the region to which he refers:

Thirteen years ago there was not, in the county of Adams, Illinois, a single Presbyterian or Congregational church. The first church was organized at Quincy, December, 1830, consisting of 14 members, by Rev. Asa Turner and Rev. C. L. Watson. Mr. Turner commenced his labors in the place some six months previous. Accessions were made to the church by letter and profession, so that in April, 1832, there had been 41 members, one of whom had been removed by letter, and another by death. The labors of Brother Turner were continued in this field till the spring of 1838. This church received Home Missionary appropriations in support of the institutions of the Gospel for four years. At a meeting of

the church, June, 1834, they ordered a vote of thanks to the A. H. M. S. for the aid they had received, and acquainted them with the fact that they were themselves able to sustain the institutions of the Gospel. The same meeting voted thirty dollars to constitute their minister a life member of the Society.

After the departure of Mr. Turner, occasional laborers were employed till 1841, when Rev. H. Foote commenced preaching as stated supply and has continued to do so up to the present time.

Since the organization of the church, revivals of religion have been enjoyed almost every year, some of which have been of great power. Accessions have been made, as the fruits of these revivals, numbering from 19 to 40 at a time. In 1837 there were 152 members. There are at present about 250. The average attendance upon the ministrations of the word is about 400.

In 1836, the contributions of this church amounted to 25 dollars at each monthly concert, making an annual sum of 350 dollars, besides appropriations to other benevolent objects. It is to be regretted that there is no record of the appropriations to the different benevolent societies of the age, that the friends of Home Missions might see how much has been gained to the cause of benevolence by what was done for this church in its infancy. It is well ascertained that contributions to the amount of about 600 dollars were made for two or more years. Since 1834 we may safely estimate them at 200 dollars per year on an average. This will make an aggregate of 1,800 dollars. The amount expended by the A. H. M. S. for the four previous years was 1,300 dollars, making a gain to the cause of benevolence of 500 dollars. The church, among other objects, sustained a candidate for the ministry through his preparatory course of study. He is now about to enter the western field as a minister of the gospel. This congregation have recently erected a comodious house of worship, at an expense of 14,500 dollars, which has been paid for.

The presbyterian church of Quincy was organized in June, 1840, consisting at its organization of 15 members, most of them from the Congregational church. They early secured the labors of Rev. Mr. Marks, then preaching in Missouri. The Head of the Church has smiled upon their enterprise. They have sustained the preaching of the gospel without aid from abroad. Twice the Spirit of God has poured out upon the congregation, and souls have been converted. The church now numbers 100 and the congregation 300. They have appropriated to benevolent purposes, since their organization, 224 dollars. They have erected a fine brick edifice, nearly complete, at an expense of 8,000 dollars, which is entirely paid for.

Besides these churches, there are an Episcopal, a Baptist, a Methodist, a Protestant Methodist and Lutheran church each of which are supplied with the ministry of the word. There are also two Romish churches in the place. It should be mentioned in this connection, that the city of Quincy, containing a population of 5,000, has adopted a system of common schools which are sustained by a tax and made free to all.

The Congregational church of Mendon, 15 miles north east of Quincy, was organized in February, 1833, and consisted of 18 members. They then enjoyed the labors of Rev. Solomon Hardy a part of the time, and continued to do so for more than a year. After the close of his labors, the church was destitute of regular preaching for nearly two years. Although they enjoyed but occasional labors of the ministry, they were favored with a season of refreshing from God, and some souls were converted. In 1836 they invited Rev. Wm. Kirby to labor among them, and he was installed as their pastor in 1839, and has continued with them till the present time. In 1836 the church consisted of 40 members. There have been seasons of revived interest in the church, more or less frequently from the first, the most solemn and extensive of which were in 1839 and '40 and '43. That in 1840 was one of great interest and power. Hardly a thoughtless

sinner was to found in this community, and as the fruit of it, nearly all of a suitable age were gathered into the church. The cause of temperance is so generally triumphant, that little remains to be done. Scarcely a man can be found in the community who does not practice total abstinence from all that can intoxicate. Benevolent operations share in its attention. To the various enterprises of benevolence it has contributed $467, besides other small amounts of which no record is kept. Since the commencement of the labors of their present pastor, the church has for the most part sustained him. A part of his time he has labored in neighboring destitute settlements. The church now numbers 107 members. A great portion of the families comprising it are from Guilford, Ct., and the region near it.

Payson Congregational church is located in a pleasant prairie, 15 miles south-east of Quincy. Many of the families connected with it are natives of West Hartford, Ct. The church was organized in May, 1836, and consisted of 20 members. Rev. Anson Hubbard was sustained there by the Home Miss. Soc.. one year. After a short interval of destitution the church invited Rev. Thomas Cole to labor among them, and he was installed as their pastor, and continued among them four years. The church assumed the responsibility of his entire support from the first, upon a salary of $500 per year. Of few churches at so early a period and so feeble, can so much be said. They also erected and completed a neat edifice as a place of worship, at an expense of $5,000. Unhappily, after enjoying the privilege of worshipping in it something over two years, the house, during the progress of a protracted meeting, was consumed by fire in the winter of 1842. Another house, smaller and cheaper, is in process of erection upon the same spot, and it is hoped will be in readiness for them the coming winter. Its cost is estimated at $700. The contributions to benevolent objects have averaged at least $100 per year for this last six years. There have been three re

vivals of deep interest since its organization, as the fruits of which, quite a number have been gathered into the church. There are now 60 members. Rev. J. H. Prentiss is laboring among them, and in consequence of their embarrassments, is partially sustained by the A. H. M. Society.

The Presbyterian church at Newton, about 12 miles east of Quincy, is a branch of the church at Payson. It was organized February, 1839, and consisted of 25 members. They have erected a suitable house of worship, and for two years enjoyed the labors of the Rev. L. P. Kimball. He was sustained by the church alone. Religion has been much prospered, and nearly every adult member of the community is a member of the church. By a temporary arrangement, they enjoy the labors of Rev. D. Nelson, the present year, which terminate in the spring. While in their infancy, they enjoyed for more than a year the labors of Rev. Thomas Cole, of Payson, onefourth of his time. The number of members in this church is 65. The various objects of benevolence have been patronized, but to what extent can not be stated.

Presbyterian church at Columbus. Columbus is situated near the geographical center of Adams Co., on a high rolling prairie. The church was organized in 1834, and then consisted of 11 members. Rev. McCoy of Clayton, preached to them a quarter of the time for three years. Rev. Warren Nichols labored among them two years under the patronage of the A. H. M. S. There have been three revivals of religion, which brought considerable accessions to the church. The present number is 93. The greatest number of accessions at any one time was 23-the average 9 per year. Since the year 1837, $330 have been contributed to benevolent purposes. They have a comfortable house of worship.

Clayton Presbyterian church is located in the extreme eastern part of the county The church was organized in 1836, and consisted of about 20 members. Rev. Mr. McCoy has labored with them more or less of his time since.