The Rhode Island American, And General Advertiser

To the Editors of the Baltimore Telegraph,

for publishing a weekly paper on every Saturday, to be denominated the Christian Messenger. The following is an extract from their prospectus:

"It must be consoling to the heart of every Christian to witness the astonishing exertions that have been made to advance the kingdom of our Redeemer. In the illimitable wilds of our native country—in the desert sands of Africa, as well in those populous regions, where the Bramin kneels, and worships the monsters of his own fancy, amongst all men, however diversified by character or by climate, by civilized or by savage nature, is heard the silver trumpet of gospel salvation. In defiance of all the terrors of persecuting vengeance, of all the dangers by which they are surrounded, in contempt of mighty oceans, and heaven-aspiring mountains that interpose, the missionary of the gospel traverses sea and land, proclaiming the glorious tidings of salvation.

"Were a Roman Emperor now alive to witness such triumphs, he would first inquire what mighty nation was rivalling the glories of the eternal city? what armies, what Generals were achieving such mighty conquests—what hecatombs of human victims had been sacrificed—what triumphal arches had been erected to the memory of the victor—how many captives led in chains, had followed the wheels of his victorious chariot home? With what incredulous astonishment would he hear that these mighty changes had been brought about by a few harmless and unprotected men, with no other weapons but their prayers and benedictions—that they courted danger and death in every shape, to teach to their ferocious persecutors the doctrines of humanity; that their only crowns of triumph were those of martyrdom, their only temporal rewards, painful watchings, abstinence, privations and constitutions broken down in the service of benevolence. Yet these are facts of noonday notoriety, and so common that they almost cease to awaken our curiosity.

"It is hoped that a weekly journal, designed to record the sufferings and the triumphs of the Christian heroes, will not be thought entirely unworthy of publick patronage. With how much anxiety have we been accustomed to peruse the triumphs of European warriors, who have waded to their eyebrows in blood, and who have won by such victories the homage of the poet's lyre, the pencil of the painter, the chisel of the sculptor, the plaudits of admiring millions! and shall victory cease to delight us, because she comes arrayed in the white robes of gospel mercy?

"We need not the words of Scripture to inform us, that "he who triumphs over his own passions, is greater than he who taketh a city;" the crown of the Christian hero beams with renovated lustre at the grave, the place where the diadems of earthly conquerors lose their splendour—his triumphal arch is erected by the hand of death."