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the opposition and unkindness they have experienced. Tehei and Upa, and their wives are most active, and are an example to teachers. Such is the Captain's testimony. Brother Williams and brother Bourne have received letters from the Islands of Mitiaro, Rarotonga, and Aitutake, where teachers from the several churches in the Society Islands are stationed, from whom the Society will hear a fuller account than I can give. The natives had embraced the Gospel before, of which accounts have been sent; they are continuing to improve. Rarotonga, brother Williams informs me, is subject to our Lord and Saviour. The other islands are not so decided, but the Gospel is prevailing.

We have received from the Society a supply of slates, since which we have introduced the British system into our Children's School, and, I think, it will answer exceedingly well, when we have completed our design. The average daily attendance is, at present, about 200. Our family, through divine mercy, are well.

EAST INDIES.

CALCUTTA.

Letter of the Rev. Samuel Trawin, Missionary at Calcutta, dated Kidderpore, August 18, 1825, addressed to the Secre tary.

Native Converts.

The Lord has, during the past year, blessed our feeble labours with a very encouraging degree of success. In addition to many pleasing prospects of usefulness, which you will perceive are now opening around us, we have the joy of recording the conversion of two brothers. Our little native flock now consists of three, Ramhurree, Shristedhor, and Chandee, a female convert. These individuals were not long since sitting in the region of darkness, and in the valley of the shadow of death, but thanks be to God for his infinite mercy, that on them he hath caused to shine the light of life. They formerly joined in the frantic reveries of idol worship, and thus proved by their deeds of darkness that they were under the absolute control of the prince of the power of the air; but now, we trust, they are clothed, and in their right mind sitting at the feet of Jesus. Amidst the general gloom that covers this land of darkness, oh! how cheering to see the true light beginning to shine. Another pleasing circumstance I shall notice. It relates to a Hindoo. This man, (a shop-keeper,) who is constant in his inquiries as to Christianity, and affords us very pleasing hopes that his convictions will issue in a sound conversion. His shop is situated in the midst of a large bazar, (or market) close by two heathen *males. The first is that of Sheeb, or the

destroyer; and the second is the residence of Punchanaud, a god denominated the King of diseases. (It is an object of great terror to the natives.) Before this inquirer's door pass thousands of people daily, whilst the officiating Brahmins occupy the adjoining temples, yet he is neither afraid nor ashamed to get the native Christian to read and explain the scriptures in his shop. This service is occasionally followed by singing and prayer. The above mode of conduct has, of course, exposed him to the ridicule of his companions, nevertheless, he states his conviction of the truth of Christianity with great firmness. Opposite his seat of merchandize is one of our preaching stations; there is, consequently frequent religious disputations in the market-place. Oh! may God make his word effectual to the conversion of multitudes in this place.

New Native Chapel.-Services and Attend

ance at the same.

We have now, through. mercy, a neat Pukka chapel, adjoining the premises of the house we occupy. Contiguous to this, are the boys' and girls' schools, in the rear of which reside Ramburree and his family. The chapel is occupied in the following manner. The boys belonging to the seminary are regularly taught in it.-Sabbath mornings, native worship.-Afternoons, reading the Scriptures.-Evenings, English worship.-Tuesday evenings native worship. Thursday mornings, the schoolmasters and others go through a course of religious instruction from eleven to half past one.-Friday evenings, reading the Scriptures and prayer. Our English congregation fluctuates from 18 to 40. It is increased of late, by the attendance of a number of youths from Mr. Kyd's Dockyard. These boys are bound to Mr. Kyd by an apprenticing Society, which was lately formed in Calcutta, for the purpose of teaching useful trades to a number of orphan boys, and others who are in a measure unprovided for. The above gentleman has, at present, seven, and intends increasing the number to 25. Among the lads, already bound, are three from the South Sea Islands. We look upon these young persons with peculiar interest, because they come from a place that God has so eminently blessed. When they know a little more of the English language, we hope to give them a course of religious instruction. And oh! may they also be brought to walk in the light of the Lord, as do their happy countrymen in their native land.

Increase of Native Schools.

A third circumstance that gives us much pleasure is the increase of Christian schools, for the benefit of the natives. Our sphere of missionary labour, in this interesting department, has, indeed, widened to a very considerable extent, We bere now ton

schools, five of them are under the superintendence of my beloved partner, and the residue under my own care. Mrs. Trawin has, during the past year, opened three girls schools. One at Kidderpore-a second, at Bhobanipore, adjoining the boys school; and a third, at the village of Howalee, denominated the Irvine Female School.

At these schools, catechisms and short prayers are committed to memory-the Scriptures are daily read and explained, and a goodly number of adults are gaining a considerable knowledge of the fundamental truths of Christianity, by the catechetical lectures delivered at the schools and the Bengalee sermon which follows. In the villages of Bealla and Dhopopara Modeilly, twelve months ago, we believe not a ray of the true light shone-not a portion of the word of God was to be seen, and now we have the pleasure of seeing in each of these more than a hundred boys learning the catechism, and from twenty to thirty attentively reading the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Many of the boys are Brahmin youths of sixteen years and upwards. Our prayer now is, that the schools may get more and more efficient, that the seminary may be furnished with promising youths; and, finally, that able schoolmasters and preachers may be supplied to diffuse the knowledge of divine truth in this land of idols. Should the Lord bless this infant cause, great good will, we trust, be done in his name, and to him shall be all the praise.

An extensive field of labour is now open before us, where the seed of the kingdom has never been sown, and an encouraging degree of success has been granted. The first-fruits have been already gathered, though the great harvest of immortal souls is yet to be reaped. What remains then for us, but to sow our seed in the morning, and in the evening not to withhold our hand, to labour in season and out of season, in order to bring sinners to Christ, and to abound in fervent prayer for the out-pouring of the Spirit," that the wilderness may speedily become like Eden, and the desert like the garden of the Lord.

Misery of the Idolaters-Suttee, &c. &c. This station, (viz. Kidderpore and its environs), contains an immense multitude of immortal souls, add to which, it is only three miles from the native part of Calcutta. The road, on which our chapel stands, is much frequented by pilgrims from all the eastern parts of Bengal, in their way to Jug

• At this station some young men have learnt to sing, and this circumstance has tended very much to increase the congregation. On last Monday evening there was not room for the people to sit many of our auditory were very respectable natives,

gernauth; parties of these deluded wanderers, occasionally listen to the word of life by the way; and who knows but their feet may, by this means, be turned into the path of peace. It is distressing to think how many of them die on the road. To detail all the causes of premature death among an idolatrous people, would be difficult indeed. Here frequently, no value is put upon the precious life, and the horrid ceremonies that generally ensue at death are dreadful to relate.

I shall just advert to a circumstance or two that have come under my own observation. Soon after we came to Kidderpore, a native of Burdwan died here. The people understanding that he had left a wife, immediately despatched a messenger to inform her of her husband's decease, and the corpse was detained until they knew whether she would immolate herself on the funeral pile. On the 5th day she arrived with her son, on the 6th she obtained the magistrate's permission to burn, and on the 7th the body, or rather the remains of the putrid mass was taken out of the house, when the widow and her son, with a vast concourse of people, proceeded to the place of burning, where, after performing the usual ceremonies, she expired in the flames, which her own son had so unnaturally kindled.

Another instance is that of a poor man that was drowned off Chitlah about three months ago. This occurred whilst I was attending the school there. The man, a poor cow-keeper, was crossing the stream that parts Chittah from Kaleeghaut, holding by the tail of one of his cattle, (a mode of fording rivers not unfrequent in this country.) The poor man, however, left his hold and was drowned. The body being found, and no relative or friend appearing to burn it, the people stuck the corpse upon four bamboos, to be devoured by the fowls of the air. Oh! the sights that meet us at every turn in this heathen land, surely they are enough to move the callous heart of an infidel. It is almost impossible to convey a correct idea of the ghastly spectacles that are constantly exhibited in the public roads and at the Hindoo temples.

To look at the famished bodies of the pil grims, to behold the diseased and distorted limbs of the numerous devotees, and especially to observe the painted bodies of some ascetics who wander about in a state of almost entire nudity, is enough to fill the mind with horror and amazement at the superstitions of the people. Oh! the demoralizing effects of idolatry! how it tends to injure the body and destroy the soul.

In addition to these every day scenes the cholera is raging among the natives, and slaying thousands upon thousands, The*

Two fishermen who reside about thre

Chitlah schoolmaster informed me on Thursday morning, that 366 bodies had been burnt on the opposite side of the stream the preceding day. The scene around us is awful indeed. At the ghauts used for burning, the fires are neither quenched day nor night. I endeavoured to improve the event in my address to the natives on Thursday morning. Some seemed much affected, others observed it is our destiny, and no one can alter it, the present calamity,added they,is God's visitation for sin, and there is no possible way of stopping its progress. I begged them to view the subject in another light; and assured them that whilst sin was the sole cause of all our afflictions, and death, that God had sent this mortality to warn them of their danger, and to call them to repentance for sin and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thus are we surrounded with objects of misery. Sin reigas unto death. The strong man armed keeps his palace, and his goods are in peace. Oh how much I wish that the friends of missions could for a moment visit this valley of bones. Could they on the banks of the Ganges witness the death of a poor Hindoo, surely it would be a scene not soon to be forgotten. There they would behold one half of the body of the expiring idolater immersed in water with the name of Gungo written on his breast and forehead. Around this appalling spectacle stand the surviving relatives and friends crying Hurree, Hurree, Hurree, Krishnu. The crimes of Hurree (or Krishnu) the Hindoo god, it is well known are too enormous to be mentioned, and yet they suppose that merely pronouncing his name at death operates like fire, and immediately consumes all the sins the dying person has committed. Thus expires the Hindoo, awfully deceived, without Christ, without God, and consequently without any well. grounded hope; and now who is there that will not exclaim with the Prophet, "Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might we p day and night for the slain!" Dwelling in this awful darkness, the heathen claims especially our pity, our prayers, our property, and our utmost exertions. God forbid that the familiarity of those scenes should cool our own affections, or the want of immediate success damp the zeal of our christian friends. Oh! shall we see them literally drawn unto death and ready to be slain without pointing them to Jesus who came to avert the stroke? Shall we see them dropping into hell by thousands without beseeching the Father of mercies to pluck these

miles from this station, and have heard the preaching of the gospel here, seem impressed with the word. They have applied for the ordinance of baptism. I have conversed with them at different periods, and am not without hope that a work of grace may have been begun in their hearts.

t

brands from everlasting burning? Oh no, that cannot be. If we forget or neglect the heathen, as some would wish us to do, and thes abandon them to their low and lust estate, then, where is our christi. e. sympathy? where our gratitude? where those bowels of mercy which the Scriptures admonish us to put on? Rather let us say if we forget them, let our right hand forget her cunning and our tongue cleave to the roof of our mouth.

I now close by wishing you continued and increased success in your great undertaking, and by requesting a continued interest in your kind remembrances and prayers both for ourselves and dear fellow-labourers.

P. S. A gentleman, whose name I am not at liberty to mention, has given me his order for fifty Rupees per mensem, towards our Native Seminary. It is gratifying to observe that, including the house with which we are kindly accommodated, the Society is not receiving less from this station than 147 Sicca Rupees (or £14 to £15 sterling) per month, and all this from a few individuals.

MADRAS.

Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Edmund Crisp, dated 5th Murch, 1825, addressed to the Secretary.

I AM concerned to state, that ever since last November I have been an invalid. At one time the disorder assumed such an appearance, that my medical attendant considered my life to be in danger. I am still considered to be in such a state as renders it improper for me to preach. I cannot but feel this disqualification, especially as it has continued so long; but I would still be thankful to Him who has afflicted me, only, I trust, to bring me nearer to himself, and, perhaps, to prepare me for more effectually exercising my ministry.

It has been the opinion of some of my friends, that nothing less than a sea-voyage would thoroughly restore me, and indica tions of a very hot season approaching, impressed them still more strongly with the idea. But I felt unwilling to believe that such a measure was necessary, and I was, in every respect, averse to it, unless it were indispensable. I therefore preferred following another plan which was proposed,-that of taking up my abode, during the hot months, at Mai Lapoor (or St. Thomé) a place about five miles from the fort, and about the same distance from Vepery. We had previously tried the effect of the air of the neighbour hood, and I found it exceedingly beneficial, which determined me on removing hither; and here I cannot deny myself the pleasure of mentioning the very great kindness shown me by the Madras Wesleyan brethren. They invited me and my family to their house at Royapettah, and, during the whole of the

last month we lived with them, experiencing every kindness which Christianity or friendship could dictate. And whilst recording the kindness of these gentlemen, (the Rev. Messrs. Carver and Hoole) I may also mention, that during the whole of my illness, our friends in general alleviated, as far as they could, by sympathy and kindness, the sufferings we were called to endure; and that they were sufferings, you will readily admit, when I tell you that, about five days after I was attacked, our child was, to all appearance, in dying circumstances, and continued, as it were, hanging between life and death for some days. His disease, however, as well as my own, has, through divine goodness, yielded to the remedies employed. I hope that our temporary residence in this neighbourhood may give us an opportunity of doing some good. It is a dark place, inhabited by great numbers of Roman Catholics; and as I find my strength and ability for labour fast returning, I hope soon to have no other impediment in my work than what will necessarily arise out of my distance from the general scene of our labours.

BANGALORE.

Extracts of a Letter from the Rev. Messrs. Laidler, Campbell and Chambers, Missionaries at Bangalore, dated 15th May, 1825, addressed to the Secretary. DEAR SIR,

Still

Time calls on us to renew our accounts of the state of this mission. Every season brings us nearer to the glorious epoch, when Christ "shall reign from shore to shore, and from the rivers unto the ends of the earth.” The work rests on the surest foundation; it advances steadily to its consummation; and the time will at length arrive, when this world shall have become an immense temple, where God will be worshipped in spirit, in truth, and in the beauty of holiness. the obstacles which oppose the universal progress of the truth, are great and numerous. Amidst all this opposition, however, the enemy is kept within bounds. Resting secure in his bulwarks, he does not venture to oppose our open declaration of the truth in the streets and lanes of the city, our preaching from house to house the glorious gospel of peace in the villages, and our distribution of light and salvation through the medium of tracts and portions of the Bible throughout the country.

Amongst the people, we cannot but rejoice to see a spirit of inquiry prevailing to a very considerable extent, and contemplate it as the forerunner of better and happier days than this part of the world has yet seen. Many are dissatisfied with their present abominable system, and begin to say,

"That

is not a good god," (alluding to their gods of stocks and stones.)

In December last, a considerable sensation was produced by a public discussion which took place here, between Samuel Flavel, the native teacher, and a Roman Catholic. A respectable and well-informed native came from Madras to Bangalore on business. In going his rounds as a merchant, he called one day at the house of Samuel. Embracing this opportunity of holding forth the truth of the gospel, Samuel began to speak to him about the religion of Christ, and the necessity of being born again. From the conversation, it very soon appeared that the man was a Roman Catholic. All that Samuel said was well received, till he spoke against praying to the Virgin Mary and departed saints. After much disputing, the man wished the dispute to be postponed till another time, and that it should be public. At length it was agreed that they should meet in the most convenient place which could be procured in the bazar. Preparatory to the meeting, Samuel proposed the four following questions, as the ground of their future discussions-Is the faith of the Roman Catholic church the faith of the church of Christ? Is the church of Rome the church of Christ? Are its ceremonies,-such as bowing to the priests with their faces to the ground, counting their beads, and wearing crosses round their necks,--the ceremonies of the church of Christ? Are its acts of worship, such as bowing to images, ringing of bells, &c.-lawful in the church of Christ? Nine days were allowed for the consideration of these questions, after which they met in a large room in the bazar to discuss them. The meetings were attended, in general, by sixty or seventy persons, many of whom were heathens, and were continued for upwards of a fortnight. They were conducted with decorum and good temper on both sides, and were finished, both in point of argument and conviction, much to the advantage of the cause of truth. In them we hailed the revival of other times; we thought of the contests which, in the days of Luther and of Calvin, produced such effects in the western world; and we rejoiced in the hope that this might prove a commencement of the more certain and speedy overthrow of Antichrist in this distant land.

Public Discussion between Samuel Flavel, the Native Teacher at Bangalore, and a Roman Catholic (travelling merchant) from Madras.

HAVING met in the Bazar, the first question was proposed by Samuel.

SAMUEL. Is the faith of the Roman Catho lic church the faith of the church of Christ? CATHOLIC. Yes; the faith of the churc of Christ.

S. Prove it to me.

C. We have not our Bible with us.
S. Here is a Bible.

C. O, that is not the word of God; that is the Lutheran scripture. Many words are contained in it, which do not belong to the word of God.

S. Be so kind as point them out to me, and we will leave them all out of the argument.

C. I cannot now point them out to you; but our ministers say they are there.

S. Then it is your ministers who say such things, not you.

A small book was now produced, to show the incorrectness of the translation.

C. There are in the second commandment, in the Latin, no words for " graven image ;" yet the Lutherans have put in these words; and having done the same in many other parts, the translation cannot be correct.

S. Our Scriptures are translated from the Hebrew and Greek; and the translators were so careful in giving them according to the original, that when a word was to be supplied, they have put it in italics, as any of you may know who have perused them. But these Scriptures can be taken to your ministers, and all that they point out as incorrect, I will be answerable for. Since, however, you have not your Bible with you to proceed to the subject, you may give us from memory what you believe, and I will tell you what I believe, and we can argue accordingly.

C. I agree to your proposal, and you may proceed.

S. I believe, then, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; that he is the only Mediator between God and man; that he is the way, the truth, and the life; that he is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him; and that he is the only Advocate who intercedes for us at the right hand of his Father. Is this your belief, or wherein does your belief differ from it?

C. No. We believe that Jesus Christ, calling his disciples to him, said to St. Peter, "Thou art the rock," and on this rock the church is built; and according to these words of Christ, we are the church of Christ.

S. If you believe St. Peter to be the rock on which the apostles built, of course you must believe all the epistles which he and they have written, and receive all the truths those epistles contain.

C. Yes.

S. Where, then, do you find Paul, or Peter, or John, instructing the saints to worship the Virgin Mary, or to pray to departed spirits, or to intercede for the dead, or speaking of purgatory, &c.?

After a pause, no proof being produced, Samuel proceeded.

S. Should your priests be able to give you, from the writings of those apostles, any proofs, even from their Latin version, mark

them, and bring them forward, and, convinced, I will avow my belief.

C. I do not say that such things are in the Latin Bible; but, at the same time, there are many things, which Protestants believe, that are not found in the Scriptures.

S. What are these?

C. They have godfathers and godmothers standing at baptism; they print the Scriptures, and distribute them amongst the common people; they keep Good Friday. All these things they do without any command in the Bible.

S. As to godfathers and godmothers, this is not a subject of faith-they were appointed in the times of persecution, when many were cut off by the sword, lest children should be left without any guardians. Then, as to the Scriptures being given to the common people, did not Christ command his disciples to go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature? After his resurrection, he sent them out to all nations to preach the word of salvation. When God sent Peter to the Gentiles-to Cornelius, what was the lesson he intended to teach us ?-that nothing was common or unclean; that the Gentiles, as well as the Jews, were to hear his word; and that no distinction of character or sect was to prevent them from hearing or receiving the word of God. Why did the apostles write their letters, and send them to the churches? It was surely that they might be read amongst them all, and might be for the advantage of the church in every age. And how did we come to be Christians? Were we not formerly heathens? Was it not through the word of God that we were converted? And is it not by the same means that all our people are to be turned from their idols? And if they hear and receive this word, will it not make them good men, and fit them for heaven? Why, then, keep the Bible from them?

C. But you say that all who hear and believe the word of God are Christians. Catholics receive the word of God, and believe in Christ, and must therefore be Christians. Why, then, when Catholics come to you, and hear you preach and renounce our church, do you baptize them again? Here you make a separation. If they are Christians, why do you make this difference?

S. To be sure we make a difference, but it is because they are Roman Catholics. After we preach the gospel, if a man believes it, he renounces Roman Catholicism, and becomes a Christian Catholic. When he has left all the superstitions of the church of Rome, he comes to believe all that is contained in the church of Christ. After he

has believed the pure Gospel, he has need to be baptized, because he was before a disciple of Antichrist.

C. Who do you call Antichrist?
S. The church of Rome, Christ is the

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