Missionary Herald. BAPTIST MISSION. Home Proceedings. ANNUAL MEETING. RESOLUTIONS of the General Meeting, held on Thursday, June 23, 1825, at Great Queen-street Chapel: Benjamin Shaw, Esq. Treasurer to the Society, in the Chair: On the motion of the Rev. John Birt, of Manchester, seconded by Richard Foster, Jun. Esq. of Cambridge, It was resolved unanimously, I. “That the Report now read be adopted and circulated; and that the success with which it has pleased God to follow the efforts of this and other Societies for the diffusion of divine truth, furnishes a powerful motive for devout acknowledgment and persevering exertion." On the motion of the Rev. William Steadman, D.D. of Bradford, Yorkshire, seconded by the Rev. George Burder, Secretary to the London Missionary Society, It was resolved unanimously, II. "That this Meeting contemplates, with deep regret, the removal by death of the justly revered Dr. Ryland, Senior Secretary to the Society, and other active and zealous friends of the Mission: events which call for earnest prayer that God would raise up and qualify others for active service, and grant larger measures of that divine influence which is essential to the success of all Missionary labours." It was moved by the Rev. Joseph Kinghorn, of Norwich, seconded by the Rev. Joseph Slatterie, of Chatham, and Resolved unanimously, III. That this Meeting has heard with pleasure that the funds of the Society have considerably increased during the past year; and thankfully acknowledges the kindness of those Christian friends, to whose exertions that increase is owing-especially of those Ministers who have travelled to collect for the Society, and of the Ladies who have interested themselves in the sacred cause." On the motion of the Rev. Spedding Curwen, of London, seconded by the Rev. Thomas Finch, of Harlow, It was resolved unanimously, IV. "That the sincere thanks of this Meeting be presented to those Gentlemen who have conducted the affairs of the Society during the past year-that the Treasurer and Secretary be requested to continue in their offices-that Mr. John Danford, Mr. Joseph Hanson, and Mr. William Burls, Jun. be the Auditorsand that the following be the list of the Committees for the year ensuing. GENERAL COMMITTEE. George Barclay, Irving. Rev. William Nichols, Collingham. George Pritchard, London. William Steadman, D.D. Bradford. Central Committee. Rev. John Chin... F. A. Cox. William Winterbotham. Corresponding Committee. Rev. J. Acworth, Leeds. W. Copley, Watford. E. Daniel, Luton. B. H. Draper, Southampton. R. Edminson, Bratton. J. Geard, Hitchin. Mr. T. Thompson, Newcastle ander Line. Rev. T. Thonger, Hull. T. Tilly, Portsea. W. Tomlin, Chesham. J. Wilkinson, Saffron Walden." On the motion of the Rev. J. Wilkinson, of Saffron Walden, seconded by the Rev. John Edwards, of London, It was resolved unanimously, V. "That the cordial thanks of this Meeting be presented to the Trustees of this Chapel, and to the Rev. Rowland Hill and the Trustees of Surry Chapel, for their kindness in accommodating us with their places of worship on the present occasion." It was moved by the Rev. James Upton, of London, seconded by R. B. Sherring, Esq. of Bristol, and Resolved unanimously, VI. "That the next Annual Meeting of the Society be held in London, on Thursday, June 22, 1826." On the motion of the Rev. F. A. Cor, A.M. of Hackney, seconded by the Rev. John Shoveller, of Poole, It was resolved unanimously, VII. "That this Meeting respectfully acknowledges the kind and able services of Benjamin Shaw, Esq. Treasurer, as Chairman this day." days we shall receive it again. I would apply this to native female instruction for the encouragement of all, by stating that out of the nine or ten of every age collected, whom we commenced with in 1817, seven learned to sew, and have since learned to read; and five have embraced Christianity. Amongst the latter only one discovered early fruits, and she died five years ago, in the full faith of entering into the immediate presence of her Saviour Jesus Christ. The others came forth in the Christian life, like wheat in cold climates after a winter's frost upon it. One of these teaches the Female School in the Naboh's compound, to which I now attach the name of Lady Town's School, as she furnished means to erect it. The other three live at Monghir. If half of every school should thus become converts, through Christian instruction, how great would be the rewards of those who extend it to them! Although amongst the sixty girls who were taught to read in 1821, 1822, and 1823, no fruits have as yet appeared unto Christ, still, I trust, the seeds of instruction, will, like the sown wheat in frigid climes, gain a state of preparation by lying concealed (under the fetters of Hindoo prejudice), to spring forth vigorously, when the Sun of Righteousness shall shine over these sown fields. There are now fifty-five native girls, Hindoo and Mussulman, under tuition in the Digah Mission Schools; five girls of whom are of the former schools. This number will probably be increased in the cool weather. Thus one hundred and twenty native girls, and several women at their homes, have, since the commencement, been under instruction in this district. Half as many more I do not reckon, as they have acted more like spectators than scholars. The whole num ber of boys now learning is one hundred and sixty-four. I purpose having a public examination every year at least, if not every six months: the European inhabit ants else will never believe that schools exist; and it is of importance to excite their interest in favour of them. As that which took place on Saturday last was a new thing, and I had every thing to arrange, I invited only a few persons to be spectators; and those were much surprised to see such a number of native children brought under order, and having made pleasing progress. There were thirty-five in one syllable; twenty-five in two syllables; fifteen in three and four syllables, and in grammar and full read ing; twenty-two in Watts's Catechism and the ten commandments; twenty in writing on paper, fifty in writing on boards with chalk water; all the rest in the alphabet and writing on the earth with chalk, and nearly all in Hindoo arithmetic. The similar classes in each school were formed into one, and brought into the room, examined and dismissed alternately, and all done quietly. The girls presented their needle-work, and gained much praise, as well for that as their other performances, for they wrote, and read in print before the ladies and gentlemen. After the work of examination, the children were all called into the rooms, and brother Roop Das read to them a few verses from scripture, and explained them very clearly, respecting what really defiled a man, and that knowledge which was necessary to their enjoyment, both in this world and that which is to come. And having sung a native hymn, in which many joined, brother Hurree Das closed with prayer. The children were then dismissed, with the trifling reward of two pice, or a penny each, to get themselves a morsel to eat on their way home, as many had come six miles. SUMATRA. RECENT arrivals from this island have brought us the particulars of a journey into the interior of the Battak Country, undertaken, with the sanction of the government, by Mr. Burton and Mr. R. Ward. The official report of this expedition extends to forty-four folio pages, and comprises much information on a variety of points connected with the civil and political condition of the people. The following is extracted from Mr. Ward's account: "We had to pass a mountainous district, about fifty miles wide, covered with wood, ere we came to the chief population. This distance must have been more than half doubled by the crookedness of the way. The road was too rugged to admit of the use of horses, and we there fore performed the journey on foot, chiefly without shoes and stockings. The fifth day after our departure, we entered the district of Silindung, whence we were obliged to return eventually without penetrating farther. During our stay here, we were daily attended from morning till night by crowds of people from every quarter. They were universally civil, and appeared to form a high idea of our character. A disposition to avarice, however, discovered itself with much shallow cunning and artifice. They displayed great simplicity as it respects an advanced stage of society, but were extremely inquisitive. Every article we carried with us became an object of their anxious curiosity. We were asked by some, if we were not invulnerable; by others, if we should ever die, &c. "On our first arrival we were so much pressed by the crowd, that it became ne cessary to take shelter in the house of the chief. We afterwards exhibited ourselves for several hours from an elevated loft at the end of the house, answering such questions as the multitude chose to put. At night the house was filled to excess, and Mr. Burton read some of his tracts, especially the ten commandments, with which they were much gratified. He then opened to them the great truths of Christianity; and when he came to speak of the resurrection, the future judgment, and a final state of immortality, no words can express the interest excited, the astonishment painted in every countenance. For a moment all was profound silence, every one looking on his neighbour, not knowing what to say or what to think. We were ourselves as much at a loss to see the unexampled effect of these wonderful truths on their first revelation. The scene at Athens, when St. Paul preached on the same subjects, occurred as precisely the same, except that certain men clave unto him and believed.' This practice of reading and conversing with the multitudes, who resorted to us in the evenings, was continued all the time we remained, and the gospel was received generally as the most interesting subject we could introduce. "A considerable portion of the second day was consumed in a public bechara, or consultation, attended by the chiefs of the neighbouring villages, and about two thousand people. It was held in the open street, and the chief, our host, took a seat, as a kind of president, on a stone placed in the front of his own door. The multitudes seated themselves in a large semicircle around him. The conference commenced by a public declaration, that we had arrived on a friendly visit, and intended to proceed in a few days on our journey to the great Lake of Toba, the residence of the principal chief of the Bataks, whom we wished to see-that we had brought with us certain books, revealed by the only true God, a know. ledge of which was of the utmost import ance to all men-that we wished to acquaint them with the contents of these, and if they should be approved, send up supplies, free of expense, after our return to the coast-that these books would teach all men to be happy-that if any person embraced their instructions, and conformed his life to their precepts, he would lose all the dread of Bogus, and Saitans, and every evil spirit, by which they were so perpetually harassed, and be placed under the immediate protection of the one great God. In fact, that they would be made happy in this life, and happy for ever after death. Mr. Burton then stood forth, and read with a loud voice the ten commandments, commenting as he proceeded. A Batak man succeeded him, reading another tract, I think, a portion of the gospel. After this, the Bechara proceeded, with a good deal of order, each speaker standing up as he spoke. Speeches were made from various parts of the circle, affording interesting specimens of savage eloquence. Some spoke with great fluency, some with great bodily action, and some with much warmth, wit, and sarcasm, endeavouring to move the feelings of the audience. Some maintained that they ought not to allow us to pass on to the lake without first ascertaining the will of Singa Manga Raja, the great chief. One very aged man arose, and leaning on his staff, declared that he had lived a long time, and had ever found their Adat," their laws and usages good, and that they ought not to change them ;-that if we wished to introduce any thing affecting these, they ought to reject it; but if we could teach them any thing that would make them more rich or happy, they ought to embrace it cordially. This speech excited much applause; and after assuring them that what we wished to teach, would not interfere with their laws, they expressed themselves much pleased, and showed great willingness to receive the books. "After this we exhibited and explained the use of a telescope, a mariner's compass, and such articles as we had with us, all of which were carried round for particular inspection, no one being suffered to leave his place. The telescope and the compass excited much wonder: with the former, one asked us to spy out his enemies, another to discover the evil thoughts of any bad person in the assembly, and so forth. It was the general opinion respecting the compass, that it enclosed a spirit, which moved the card to whatever place we wished to discover. "Finally, our host arose, and declared that since the gods had sent us to visit them in peace, and with good intentions, they ought to receive us in friendship, and treat us with kindness, and return thanks to the gods, by a feast, in honour of the messengers whom they had thus sent, and with this the assembly dispersed. "Two days afterwards the feast was celebrated, and occupied a space of nearly six hours. About seven thousand people were present. A pig, fowls, and a variety of sweetmeats, were prepared. The ceremonies consisted in a succession of dances, devoted to some particular object, or person, or spirit, to which the leader generally made some appropriate address. They had a band of music, consisting of drums of various sizes, gongs and cymbals, and a pipe somewhat like the clarionet, but small and without keys. We were seated on an elevated stage, erected for the purpose of exhibiting us. The English flag was suspended from a pole projecting over the street. The manner of dancing was either by a slow motion of the feet without moving from the spot, or by one in which they advanced about half a foot at a time. The hands were employed in supporting the offerings presented to the objects of their respect. Our host led the way, accompanied by his younger brother, both bearing dishes of sweetmeats. They were successively joined in new dances by his uncle, the aged orator, by his two sons, his wife, his two daughters, and ultimately by all his kindred. Afterwards the chiefs and respectable people engaged, making perhaps twenty separate dances, in companies of from three to a dozen each, bearing presents, and distributing them at the close to the spectators. One man using more activity than the rest, soon found himself possessed by a spirit, and falling down senseless was carried away. Towards the conclusion, the chief deputy of Singa Manga Raja in Silindung, stepped forth and performed a dance singly, addressing first the gods, then the English flag with much respect and at considerable length, and then ourselves. In one of the dances the ten commandments. were borne round and presented to the gods, with an appropriate speech. In conclusion, a pig was killed, and served to feast the particular friends of our host. I forgot to mention, that in the midst of these festivities the cry of the enemy' was given out, when all who had arms in their hands, ran promiscuously out of the village to meet them, but it happened to be a false alarm. "After the feast we were occupied in visiting various parts of the district, and in viewing the face of the country, but for further particulars I must beg to refer, you to the Report itself. "This journey will immediately an swer one important object, and, I trust, will eventually lead to a wide and effectual entrance for the gospel, which, notwithstanding the unspeakable debasement of the Bataks, can make them wise to salvation, and meet to be partakers of the inheritance with the saints in light. From mistaken notions of their character and dispositions, occasioned by their cruel practice of cannibalism, and by their aversion to visiting the sea, there had existed an inseparable barrier to every kind of direct intercourse with them. We. commenced the journey partially under the general apprehension, but confidence in the great Being, in whom are all our ways, enabled us to surmount every obstacle, and so to conduct ourselves as to leave the most favorable impression of the European character wherever we went. We were frequently invited to take up our abode in Silindang, and become their instructors; and although the number who can read is so small, that the demand for books will not be very extensive at present, we have the satisfaction to learn, that those who can read will receive books cordially, and that the way has been opened for mutual confi dence and a free communication, without which nothing could have been ef fected. "From the various particulars thus laid before you, I think you will readily draw the following conclusions :-That from the extreme ignorance and intellectual debasement of the people, an effective system of general education is of the utmost importance.-That besides preaching and oral instruction, which should never be neglected, the cultivation of the language and a version of the scriptures are indispensably necessary. That the Batak Mission is of a most arduous nature, and if any thing permanent is expected, should be supplied with more labourers. "Relative to our affairs at Bencoolen, I have a mixture of good and evil to mention; although we should remember that all events, whatever aspects they may assume in our distorted sight, are in the hand of Him whose appointed designs of mercy must be accomplished, and whose own unsuffering kingdom still must come. "The new version of St. John in Malay you will have heard, has been completed and printed; and I have now to commu |