RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. MISSIONARY SOCIETY. THE following Intelligence will gladden the hearts of our Missionary Friends, and excite much thanksgiving to God, whose good providence has favoured so many of the Missionaries with a safe voyage to the places of their destination: Letters have lately been received from Tranquebar, from Mr. Ringeltaube, Mr. Cran, and Mr. Desgranges, dated January 22 and February 11, 1805. They have met with a very kind reception, and are diligently employed in learning the Tamulean language. Mr. Vos and Mr. Erhardt had departed for Ceylon, to commence their Mission in that island. It gives us great concern to find that Mrs. Vos is no more; but the particulars of her decease have not yet arrived. The above information is from private letters; the official letter to the Directors, sent by way of Madras, is not yet come to hand. A Letter has also been received from Mr. Palm, dated Cape of Good Hope, March 16, 1805, which we subjoin; and from which we learn, that he and Mrs. Palm arrived there the 5th of March. Mr. Kicherer and the Christian Hottentots had arrived before them. Mr. Kicherer was gone to visit his congregation at Zak River. He, however, returned in a few days after the arrival of Mr. Palm; and brought with him the brethren Albrichts and Svdenfaden. Here also they had the satisfaction of meeting with six Hottentots of Dr. Vanderkemp's congregation. The Doctor himself was expected there shortly. In about a week Mr. Palm expected to sail for Tranquebar. Translation of a Letter from Mr. J. D. Bay of Good Hope, THE Lord, our faithful divine Director, has anew so kindly proved his grace and mercy to us poor creatures, that we are unable sufficiently to thank him. He has brought us safe and well to the Cape of Good Hope, on the th inst. which is a further step toward our appointed place. Dear brethren, be thankful to the Lord that he has conducted us thus far; and I know you will do so. It is the concern of your hearts, as servants and followers of the Lord, that he may bless his work, through your endeavours, that his blessed gospel may be declared on the earth among the blind Heathen; and that the praise of the Lord may become great among all people. I am too weak in myself to give sufficient thanks to the Lord, on a view of his lave, help, and providence. O that I could enough honour, serve, and obey him, my ever-gracious Preserver, according to the everlasting wish and desire of my heart! Our voyage has been hitherto so favourable, that we, as well as all on board the ship, have been preserved healthy and unhurt, except the seasickness in the early part of it; with which my dear wife also was attacked, but in a moderate degree. In hopes that the worthy Directors duly received my le ter, written to them from Lisbon, I will repeat nothing respecting that part of the voy age. If it may please the Lord in his mercy to conduct us to our appointed place, Ceylon, I will send you my Journal. By our putting into Lisbon, our voyage has been lengthened a month. We sailed from thence with fair wind and weather the 11th of December; and proceeded very pleasantly, with joyful hearts, and thankful to God, our merciful and almighty Preserver. At Lisbon we were much recruited, and provided ourselves with some excellent fruits for our refreshment on the voy age; which, in the overpowering heats, and particularly under the Line, gave us great relief. The 16th of December, Sunday morning early, we saw an English fleet, of about thirty sail; one of which came near our ship, and sent an officer on board us, who, when he had found all right, took a very friendly leave; and told us they were bound for some garrisoned place in America. About that time we had changeable winds, which blew sometimes from one quarter and sometimes another, as well as such heavy squalls, as often, at first, alarmed us much; for they came with such force and suddenness, that the sails could not be taken in quick enough; but they held not longer than from ten to fifteen minutes at the most. The 20 of January, 1805, we saw the island of Palma, whose summit far overtopped the clouds. Next day the wind was very fair for us; and we soon found it was the welcome Trade Wind. We sailed very swiftly on, with agree. able weather. The 6th of January we were off the Green Cape. The flying-fish often amused us much, as they fluttered round about us; and frequently some of them fell on the deck. The heat now became daily more oppressive; and obliged us to change our warm clothes for some lighter, which we had taken with us. The 15th of January we passed the Line: it was very calm, and oppressively hot; but the Lord moderated the heat to us by daily refreshing rains, whereby the air was remarkably cooled and freshened. This great benefit we enjoyed from the time the Trade Wind left us, two degrees to the northward of the Line, while under the Line, and almost as long as we were within the Torrid Zone. Now we sailed steadily south-west, to fall in with the Trade Wind of that season, and almost reached the coast of Brazil; but found no Trade Wind. Happily, God sent us other winds to steer away from the coast, and sail S. E. February 2, we passed the island of Trinidad, and the wind was very variable so that often, when favourable for a while, it soon changed, or became quite calm; and we found ourelves quite disappointed in our expectation of having a Trade Wind; and began to think we had missed the western monsoon. From this time we were obliged to pursue our voyage with variable winds as well as we could, whereby it was so tedious, as to give us more than a month's sailing to and fro, before we arrived at the Cape of Good Hope. The 5th of March we came to an anchor here, safe and well, with joy and thankfulness; and went on shore the following day. Our joy was now very great, and the gratitude of our hearts ascended in silent aspirations to God, for his having so far mercifully conducted, preserved, and supported us. Brother Kicherer, with the other brothers and sisters, had arrived before us at the Cape; therefore, our coming was expected by the Danish packet. Our friends received us with much joy. We hoped to have fouad Brother Kicherer and the others still here; and have since had that satisfaction, for though he was not in Cape Town when we reached it (his desire after his flock, like a faithful shepherd, engaging bin to be with them) yet he returned in a few days to the town, and with him our dear Brothers Albrechts and Seidenfaden: he brought the good news that be had found his congregation at Zak River in a better situation than he could have expected. We had also the great pleasure of seeing at the Cape six Hottentots (four men and two women) of Dr. Vanderkemp's congregation, whom he sent with his waggons to purchase necessaries in the town. With these Hottentot brothers and sisters we had soulrefreshing conversation: they sang very agreeably; and a young maiden read a chapter in the Bible. Mrs. Smith, who instructs the slaves here, and is yet willing to go to Dr. Vanderkemp's station, asked her after she had read, How long she would cleave to the Lord Jesus? She hid her face in the sheep's skin wherewith she was clothed, began to weep bitterly, and said, "I will never leave Jesus: he is my only Saviour!" Brother Vanderkemp has received an order from Government to appear before them at the Cape: it is not yet known for what reason: he is already on the way, and is expected here in a few days. We are glad that we shall probably have an opportunity of being acquainted with him. We are well off here in every respect, both for body and soul. Thanks be to our merciful God and Saviour, who exercises such loving-kindness towards us! May he mercifully farther preserve and help us on our voyage, and prepare us to become useful and faithful labourers in his vineyard! It will be eight days more, at least, before the ship will be ready to sail.- INDIA. the custom of offering human sacrifices to the Ganges, where they are devoured by the sharks. 66 These sacrifices are of two descriptions: first, Of aged persons of both sexes, which are voluntary; and of children, which of course are involuntary. The fixed periods for the performance of those rites are at the full moons in November and January. "The custom of sacrificing children, Extract of a Letter from the Malabar arises from superstitious vows made Coast. "THERE are some small congregations, in different parts of this coast, calling themselves Roman Catholic, which were established by the Portugueze, while they had possession of the country. But the Portugueze, in hope of reconciling the natives to their mode of worship, have assimilated the disgusting parade of their own ritual, to the idolatrous worship which generally prevailed. You may, therefore, conceive what a strange scene their churches must exhibit. went one day to one of them. They had a horrid bleeding figure nailed to a cross, representing Christ crucified. Whenever a curtain, which concealed the figure, was drawn up, the poor creatures began tearing their hair, beating their breasts, and screaming in the most hideous manner. On the curtain being dropped, the priest, a native, began to address the people in the Portugueze and Malabar languages alternately; but they seemed all inattention till the curtain was drawn up a second time, when they began to behave in the same extravagant manner as before. They seem to have no idea whatever of true religion, and, I think, are fully as much to be pitied as those who still worship their Hindoo idols." HORRID SUPERSTITIONS! We have occasionally mentioned the cruel rites prevailing among the Hindoos, particularly the burning of the widows of great men with the dead bodies of their husbands. The following account of sacrificing aged persons and children, taken from the Asiatic Annual Register for 1803, is peculiarly affecting, and affords fresh to abound in every vigorous method to evangelize the Heathen, among whoin barbarities so dreadful are allowed, and considered as services acceptable to their idols: — cause "THE dictates of bigotry appear to bę still more strongly opposed to the aentiments and feelings of Nature, in by the parents; who, when apprehensive of not having issue, promised, in the event of their having five children, to devote the fifth to the Ganges. "The island of Sagor, where these inhuman rites are administered, is held to be peculiarly sacred, from its being considered as the termination of the Ganges; and the junction of that river with the sea, is denominated The Place of Sacrifice. "So lately as November, 1801, some European seamen belonging to the pilot-service of Bengal, being on shore on the island, were witnesses to this horrid ceremony. The information they gave before one of the justices of the peace for Calcutta, was, on oath, to the following effect: "That on going on shore, they saw the entrails of a human body floating on the water; and, at the same time, a great number of the natives assembled on the beach, as near as they could guess, about 3000: that on asking a Fakeer, Why so many of the natives were put into the water? he answered, That the head Fakeer had ordered them to go into the water to be devoured by sharks, for the prosperity of their respective families: that they saw eleven men, women, and boys thus destroyed; and it further appeared, by other incontestible evidence, that the victims destroyed in November amounted to thirty-nine; and moreover, that a boy, about twelve years old, who had been thrown into the river, having saved himself by swimming, a Gosayne endeavoured to extend his protection to him; but singular and unnatural as it may appear, he was again seized and committed to destruction by his own parents! "To prevent this practice, a law was enacted (by the British government) in March, 1802, declaring any person who should aid or assist in forcing any individual to be a victim of this superstition, guilty of murder: but, with respect to the voluntary sacrifice of the aged and infirm, the practice prevailed so generally, and was considered by the Hindoos, under some circumstances, so instrumental to their happiness in a future state of existence, that it was doubted whether any rule could be adopted to prevent a practice, not only rooted in the remotest antiquity, but sanctioned by express tenets in their most sacred books; while the custom of sacrificing children stands not either on the prescriptive laws of antiquity, or on any tenet of the Shanscrit; but, on the contrary, it is among the Hindoos accounted a pious and meritorious act to rescue a child from destruction, and afterwards adopt and maintain it: nevertheless, the vow by which the fifth child is devoted, is considered to be nearly as binding as any written or prescriptive law." GERMANY. Extract of a Private Letter from a Roman Catholic Clergyman in Germany, to the Rev. C. F. Steinkoffpt. Feb. 25, 1805. You wish to obtain some information respecting the religious state of the Roman Catholic part of Germany: though, in my humble situation, I cannot take a view over all Germany; and possess not, by far, the requisite knowledge for an accurate representation of the matter, yet I will freely and simply tell you my opinion: I cannot but think, that far the greater part is still sitting in darkness and the shadow of death. There is certainly everywhere more superstition and infidelity than such faith in the Lord Jesus as he seeks and approves. Poor lock!" They are my brethren according to the Resh." May I say with Paul, "They have the covenant, the promise, the pledge of faith?" They are zealous for God, but not according to knowledge; so that "they go about to establish their own righteousness, not submitting themselves to the righeousness of God." There is still everywhere much willing and running, but in ways of their own choosing; with confessions, pilgrimages, saint-worship, masses for the dead, indulgences, rosaries, monkish orders, &c. By these means they are for saving themselves, absolving themselves of their sins, purchasing Heaven, and redeeming poor Bouls out of purgatory; but all this without self-denial, reformation of manners, or change of heart,- - without faith in Christ, without his Spirit or merit. There are indeed new lights, who are desirous of taking away all those absurdities from the blind popu➡ lace, which hitherto had known nor heard of nothing better; and, instead thereof, would introduce their newfangled ideas and moral syste ns; and are desirous to spread a mere natural religion. In opposition thereto, the poor people, and the clergy of the old stamp, like-minded with them, will not be deprived of those things. he The governments command, dictate, and strive in such manner to abolish superstition, an 1 to amend every thing by regular plans of education; but number of in se who substitute and preach faith in Christ, and his saving gospel, is, in the first place, but small; and in the second, they are despised, together with their Christ and oldfashioned gospel; and charged with fanaticism or heresy on the part of the common people, as well as of the great and learned. God hath, however, about eight years ago, awakened several clergy nén in Swabia to a living faith in and knowledge of Christ; and also by their instramentality, numbers of people in different places. There was great commotion and persecution many ways, of every thing relative to this new doctrine. Three excellent pious clergymen, who had suffered much before, were obliged to emigrate; and were received by a worthy Bishop in Austria, where they are still held in esteem, and do much good. Their friends are still in this country, and go on with their labours, and the Lord works with them; so that here and there good fruit appears, yet "the harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few!" Since the secularization of many Ecclesiastical States, at the last peace, the blind zealots have lost much of that power which they abused in the persecution of spiritual Christians; so that they are now no more disturbed from that quarter. Under the present government of Bavaria a far greater liberty prevails; and the fear of Inquisition, or violent persecution, is laid aside: nevertheless, the free preaching of the pure uncor rupted gospel meets with obstinate and manifold contradiction, both on the part of the populace, who have been rendered callons by their inveterate superstition; and of the clergy, many of whom are afraid of them; and many obstructions are still in the way. Perhaps there may be much good in the country that I neither see nor know, If so, I rejoice; but to what I do not know, I cannot speak. I find, on the whole, but little hunger after God, after Christ our Redeemer, and after his soul-saving word; because they generally imagine they can save themselves. I find much prejudice against the essential truths of Christianity, little desire after conversion; but also few awakened ministers to excite such a desire as to shew the people their poverty and helplessness, and lead them to the all-sufficient Fountain. Rather, they fill then with delusion and selfConceit, as if they could help them selves, either with a mere mechanical repetition of outward ceremonies, or by artificial systems and fine representations of virtue. Thus they all became "rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing, and know not that they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked." They boast indeed loudly, that they are making at present great progress in enlightening the people; and are spreading more pure ideas of religion, by insisting on a good education, and by improving the method of instruction in the schools. This is all true; but of Christ, in whose name alone is salvation, and of his preaching, I do not hear much notice taken: it is buried in silence. They will build every thing without the Master-builder and the Chief Corner-stone. Him they reject boldly, either in an open or silent manner. What will be the end thereof? Only the sound from Ratisbon, of the excellent Wittmann's Bible Institution, reaches my ear, ani refreshes me amid the many poor endeavours void of Christ. O how many Societies, Institutions, and Associations have you Englishmen, from which much blessing may be expected ! Pray the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth also labourers to our country, which, I trast, belongs likewise to his harvest! This is my view of the matter; but, as I said before, it is very circumscribed. God grant it may be better than I know! REMARKABLE BENEVOLENCE. [Translated from the Periodical Pub lications of the Basil Society.] "TOWARDS the close of the year 1799 (as I am informed by a most respectable and intinate friend, whose name need only be mentioned to confirm the veracity of the following tale in the mind of every reader, but who chooses to remain conceale 1) an old man, near sixty years of age, diminutive and deformed in his person, came hither in his way to W., and requested me to take him, and farnish him with employment, as the winter presented him with no other prospect than to he starved with cold or hunger; and not being full sixty years old, could not be received into the hospital. Providence enabled me to provide for him, by farnishing him with work in his own profession. I gave him some maps to paint for my pupils. From this person, who remained with me for thireen mouths, until Death reuovel hi.n, I learnt the following very remarkable circumstance: "He was a native of Alsace; and on a journey he made to K-, he married. He inhabited a small hou e, without the gates of the town; and his enployment barely subsisted him, tho' he constantly worked for rich ar 1 ICspectable people in the city. He was a painter and gilder. Every evening he was accustomed to bring bread home with him for his family, froin toe produce of his work. It happened, however, once, that he did not receive his money. Although God has expressly comman 'ed, that" the sun shall not go down before the labourer receives his hire," yet the degenerate Christian pays but little attention to the commands of his Maker! Very many, and clergymen amongst the number, are not even acquainted with all his written commands, more esseially those in the Old Testament, notwithstanding Jesus Christ hath absolutely destare i, in Matt. v. 17, that all shall be stretly observed, and that na jy or tittle gilder no longer get paid by his emthereof shall fail. Now could the poor For some time, however, he players. was enabled to carry home bread with him as usual to his hengry family; but at length every resource was exhausted. Throzhout the day, during this work, he put up an inward prayer to God, tha he would graciously dispose the hearts of his masters in his favour, so that they might not allow him to go home pennyless; but the day passed, the time of labour finished, and the poor husband and fathor had nothingnothing at all to take home with him! Melancholy and sad he en ered the suburbs where he lived, with a heavy heart, and downcast eyes. Some one fairgowards the oily, met him, salated him as he passed, and slipping a piece of silver into his hand, glided by hid |