THE MISSIONARY MAGAZINE. VOL. XXXIII, NOVEMBER, 1852. AMERICAN BAPTIST MISSIONARY UNION. ASSAM. LETTER FROM MR. BRONSON. The Tezpore Mission-The memory of a good man. In a previous number (p. 350) it was stated that Mr. Bronson had spent a few days at Gowahati, from which station he wrote on the 27th of March. The occasion of leaving Nowgong was the indisposition of Mrs. B., and a recommendation of her phy sician that they should spend a little time upon the river, in further pursuance of which they left Gowahati for Tezpore. Leaving Tezpore, Mr. Bronson dates Brahmaputra River, April 19, 1852.— During our stay at Tezpore I had opportunity to see something more of the place. As a missionary station it is rather inconvenient, owing to the sparseness of population in its immediate vicinity, though I believe it is a dry and healthy location. The mission established here by the unwearied efforts of our late friend and benefactor, Capt. Gordon, is still struggling with the usual pioneer difficulties of all stations in this country. At present it is dependent upon local support; and Indian society is so changeable, such support is too uncertain to secure its perpetuity. The missionary, the Rev. Mr. Hesselmeyer, who came to this country with our esteemed brother No. 11. Däuble, appears to be a good and evangelical missionary, possessing a catholic spirit, and longs to see the people of Assam turning to the Lord. I had the pleasure of worshipping with them on the Sabbath. Mr. Hesselmeyer read the service, after which I addressed them on the privilege of laboring in the service of the Lord. Our whole congregation did not number twenty persous, yet it was sweet to worship God under such circumstances. The foundation stone of the little church in which we worshipped was laid by Capt. Gordon, praying that its walls might be salvation and its gates praise. That good man possessed a good degree of the true catholic spirit of the reformers. One fundamental principle on which he solicited and obtained the subscriptions necessary to erect the church, was, that it should be open to clergymen of all evangelical denominations. His friends in this country have procured a neat and appropriate marble tablet in memory of his worth, which is soon to be put up in the church. As we worshipped together, I felt a solemn and subdued emotion while calling to mind his fervent prayers, his forwardness in the cause of Christ, his readiness in all society to speak a word for Chist. His consistent, godly life told upon native and Christian society. Impediments to the gospel-Home remem brances. O, how often have I felt, that if all who profess the Christian name in India would but act out their religion, Christianity would mightily advance! Instead of this, we often have the ungodly lives of such thrown back upon us by the heathen, with the taunt, "You Christians live as wickedly as we do. What proof is there that Christ's religion makes men better than our own religion?" I have latter ly felt that this is one of the greatest impediments to the gospel. While at Gowahati I went out into the bazaar with Messrs. Danforth and Ward. In the crowd addressed was a respectable and unusually well-informed Mohammedan. He was also unusually candid and possessed an inquiring mind. When I was pleading the superiority of the claims of Christ over those of Mohammed, and the certainty of his obtaining salvation if he believed in Christ and obeyed His commandments, he replied, "Do you Christians follow Christ? Did he drink and be drunken, or commit adultery? You Christians, I see, do it everywhere." I had no alternative but to wipe off the stigma thus cast upon our holy religion, by telling him that such had no right to the name of Christian, and that God's holy Book plainly declared that such could never enter the kingdom of heaven. become a blessing in this country? When will it ever come to be duly regarder by the mass? Yes, there is great danger lest the representatives of Christian nations cause Christianity to retrograde and these perishing millions to sleep on the road to perdition. In noticing the reception of the monthly mail, Mr. Bronson remarks: We cannot forget the tender associations of our native land. We love to retain them, and nothing seems so much like a visit home as our monthly letters. -We have rejoiced also to hear that the mysterious dispensations of Providence, in the deaths of the beloved Biddle and Campbell, are leading others to conse crate themselves to the work of missions. When I see, as I have seen during this short excursion, how many doors are though I must not rest till I see others wide open in this province, I feel as coming over to help us. It takes so much time to prepare to labor efficiently, that were helpers to come immediately, they might not be qualified in time to fill the places of some, whose failing health admonishes us that breaches may be soon made in our little band. Bishnath-Subjection to the Hindoo priesthood. Mr. B., on the 20th reached Bishnath,-now deserted as a military station. The sight of this place recalled his visit there in 1836 with the lamented Thomas, just before his untimely withdrawal from his work, and other affecting memories of past years and departed associates. A large crowd of people gathered around me when I went to one of the temples there. Here I found the grossest abominations practised by the priests, and especially by an old fakir from Hindostan. He attempted to turn all my remarks into ridicule, until I was obliged to bring home upon him the most search The secularizing of the Sabbath in this country has also a most pernicious influence. When professed Christians respond to the command, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy;" saying truths of the bible against his licening, "Lord, have mercy on us, and incline our hearts to keep this law;" and then, rising from their knees, devote the day to pastime, to business, to visiting, and to every thing calculated to secularize the mind,-and employ the natives themselves in these pursuits; how can the Sabbath and the sanctuary tious course of life, when he became somewhat irritated and kept silent. This gave me an opportunity to address the people present, upon the utter impossibility of their obtaining salvation through persons so notoriously lazy, deceitful, irritable and corrupt. The Assamese priest accompanied me to the river, where he showed me a tract that some one had given him, and said he had others. I sent him a further supply, gave the people some, and left them. The temples about Bishnath continue to draw multitudes of blind votaries, who pour in offerings to these priests and their attendants. One respectable man, who had resided here more than twenty years, seemed to admit the truth, and followed me to the boat remarking upon what he had heard. From him I learned that these priests frighten the people, threatening that if they do not make their offerings the goddess will send cholera or famine, or the tigers will take off their cattle and destroy them and their children; and thus they succeed in gaining an influence over the people. I felt sick at heart, at what I witnessed here. Sabbath on the river-The Miri tribe. Passing up the river, on the 24th, three boxes, directed to the "Civil station, Sibsagor," were found lodged in the shallows. On passing the wreck of a large boat, Mr. B. remarks: "At this season of the year sudden tempests are common, and the greatest care is required in travelling on this river. We are generally able to lie to in some cove every night, where we feel comparatively secure from the raging tempest; but what will all our care avail, without the protection of Him who holds the winds and waves under his control?" 25. Sunday.-Unable to reach a sheltered place last evening, I ordered the men to move on for a short distance to a small cove, where we spent the Sabbath. We enjoyed the day, though moored by the lonely bank, far away from all those we love. We cannot, at such times, forget the delightful sanctuaries of God in our native land, where we once were privileged to worship; but it was a pleasure under such circumstances to remember Zion and to pray for her prosperity. In the morning we had a season of prayer for the churches in this and in Christian lands, and at 4 o'clock, P. M., I preached to the boatmen and servants, who seemed very attentive. again from the tomb, seemed to interest them much. They are all rigid Mohammedans, and had not heard the particulars of the New Testament history on this subject. One of the men, to whom I had given a copy of the New Testament in Bengali, came and asked where he could find the account I had read.-Their diligence in their devotions, day by day, is worthy of a better cause. O, how I have desired that I might during this excursion be made the humble instrument of enlightening their dark minds! -There are no villages near the river, so that for several days I have had no opportunity for preaching. Our whole time, however, may be profitably spent in study when we cannot reach the people. May 3. Yesterday being Sabbath, we lay to in a small cove near a village of Miris. This simple-hearted people interested me much by their readiness to hear about the great salvation. Numbers of them continued on the boat for several hours, conversing and listening to conversation. I found here a young man belonging to this tribe, who had been encouraged by Capt. Dalton, while at Lakimpoor, to learn to read, and for several months has been teaching Miri lads, of whom I saw several and heard them read. I supplied them with Scriptures and other books, and gave the teacher also a supply of books for his Miri school. He is teaching without remuneration. I should have rejoiced any to have the means to encourage this youth in teaching his countrymen by a small monthly allowance. I am interested in this simple race. They all spoke the Assamese well, and are free from the prejudices of caste, of a long established religion and venerated priesthood. They all speak the same dialect, and what is interesting, the same as the great Abor race, who occupy the rugged peaks of the mountains on the north bank. I should rejoice to see a missionary devot On a previous Sabbath I had reading and explained to them the 20th chapter of St. John's Gospel. The proofs that Jesus was actually crucified and rose himself to the enlightenment of this people. They are themselves beginning to desire knowledge, but if any thing is done it must be done quickly, or they will adopt the Hindoo religion. The brahmins are very zealously proselyting them. pretty fully discussed by the Mission, (although no action was taken upon it at our meeting,) it seemed to be nearly the Return home-Building-Encouraging state of unanimous opinion, that the Mission, as the church. May 5.-Reached home and found all our dear missionary associates enjoying health and prosperity. Brn. Stoddard and Däuble have so far advanced in their building that they hope to be able to move into their houses in the course of a month or two. The task of building in this country cannot be appreciated at home. We have at this station no mechanics who are competent to undertake and carry forward a piece of work independently. Some one's eye must be upon them every moment, and they must be urged, or day after day is spent without effecting anything. This work makes a heavy demand on the health and strength of the missionary. I often feel that every considerable mission establishment ought to have connected with it a missionary mechanic, who understands something of various trades, and who, besides building, could instruct our pupils and native Christians. The mission and the country would be greatly benefited. This would provide remunerating labor for many of the native Christians, who are now so dependent upon us, and save much valuable missionary time and strength. The state of our little church continues encouraging, and I am hoping to be able during the rains to visit by boat several villages near us, where some interest has been manifested in the truth. Mrs. B.'s health has been somewhat improved by the river trip and by the medical advice she has received; but she is still feeble, and we have occasion to exercise the greatest caution against over-exertion and exposure. It is difficult to keep quiet when so much is to be done in this field white unto the harvest. such, cannot go into the business of taking up land, &c., but where circumstances make it advisable to render assistance in this way to the native Christians, it must be done upon individual responsibility, without involving the Mission in any expense that may be incurred. The time having come when it seems absolutely necessary for some steps to be taken towards providing for our native Christians at this station, and considering the difficulties they have had in procuring even an acre of ground, on account of the jealousy of the Hindoo and Mussulman landholders, br. Cutter and I have applied to the magistrate for several lots of unoccupied land, which he has very kindly granted us; and during the present season as many as five or six of our native Christian families will be engaged in cultivation. The dependence of converts on us for support, by being employed as servants, or even as workmen in the printing office, is attended with many disadvantages, and is not calculated to foster that independence of character which it is so desirable for them to attain. We have had some accounts of the Burmese endeavoring to stir up the tribes on the frontier to join them in an invasion of the plains, but as yet everything here remains perfectly quiet. Another cold season, we trust, will open Burmah to the gospel, and render the whole intervening country between Assam and Ava accessible to missionaries. Two females were baptized on the first Sabbath of this month-the brahmin widow, mother of Küntí, (see Mag., p. 337,) and Hupahi, a school girl, of whom you have an account in the Mission Report. (Mag., p. 133.) LETTER FROM MR. BROWN. Provision for native Christians-Baptisms. Sibsagor, June 14, 1852.-The subject of Christian villages having been LETTER FROM MR. WHITING. Visit to Dibrugor-Wants of Assam. Mr. Whiting was prostrated with the Assam fever in April last, and as soon as practicable after the attack was conveyed to the Brahmaputra river, and made a visit to Dibrugor, of which he says, under date of Sibsagor, June 14.—We went up the river about one hundred miles to the sta tion of the first regiment Assam Infantry where we stopped fourteen days with Capt. Reid, a gentleman very friendly to our mission, and to whom our brethren are very much attached. While at Dibrugor, we had an opportunity of extending our knowledge of the country and of the people. From the officers we received all the attention and information we could desire. And not a few times I did we wish that more missionaries could be sent to Assam. It is useless, perhaps, for us to think of this. Yet it seems that if you had the men, and could travel about the country, you would station two families wherever there was an English magistrate. This would require about twelve more men. If so much could be done in Assam, we might appear in earnest for the salvation of this province. But now, so large and so inviting fields are left unoccupied, that they invite the attention of Romanists and Puseyites, and thus forms of apparent Christianity are introduced, which we, our successors or the native pastors have got to meet, in addition to the errors and opposition of Hindooism and Mohammedanism. Pardon me; I have really commenced almost unawares a plea for Assam-but I have only been following the impulses of my own feelings. While at Dibrugor I had the pleasure of hearing the English residents speak highly of our mission, especially of the press and its publications. The Orunodoi is circulated in the regiment. The major has a school of thirty or forty girls, collected from the families of the sepoys; these all use books from the mission press. The effect is that the girls at least become neat in their habits, and have a wider view of what life is. Could religious ideas be directly and daily instilled into their minds, much good might result. Comfort in sickness-A year in Assam. My late sickness has been a blessing to God has excited warmer emotions of gratitude, and the prospect of death has formed in my mind a more earnest concep tion of the truth, that what we do must be done quickly. Yet I did not think I should die. I could not see the gates of death; there seemed to be a harvest-field between, which cut off the sight. The native disciples were very much concerned, and held prayer-meetings daily. Once, after prayer, Nidhi Levi came to Mrs. Whiting, saying, "Do not be afraid, Mem Sahib, the sahib will not die-he will live." And even an old heathen servant seemed to have for a moment an idea of God's love, as he said, "Don't cry, Mem Sahib; the great God will have merey-the sahib will get well.” I am more than ever attached to Assam. I love the natives, and long to be able to preach to them the word of Life. I am content to remain in this land, and among this people. I know I shall be satisfied in the great gathering, if some are there from Assam as the result of my feeble labors. I have now been in Assam one year. It has been a short year, a year of comparative inactivity, yet I hope not wholly lost. It has been entirely a preparatory year. I am conscious of having passed through a great mental change. Many ideas formed on the other side of the world have been dropped. Plans, and castles built in the air, have been overturned. In short, the experience of the past year has been such as to reduce me to realities, to curb my impulses, and to show me how limited a range one can take in this short life. I have had to learn my place in the field, and my relations to my associates. In fact, I have had to begin life anew, with the embarrassment of having to undo much of my previous life. I humbly hope it may please God to renew my strength, and give me an opportunity of travelling, the next cold season, among the villages. At present, though I have returned to Sibsagor, I am still weak, unable to study, and the excessive heat forbids my going out, even to the services on the Sabbath. |