Meigs to Tillipally, and Mr. Woodward || and stated times. At the church conto Batticotta. Mr. Winslow took the nected with each station, and at the charge of Manepy until he should depart school-bungalows in the villages, many for the United States. These removals of which have been repaired for the purwere in March of the last year. In pose, there is preaching-in the former April the mission received official notice at stated times, and in the latter upon from Sir R. W. Horton, governor of occasions frequently occurring. The Ceylon, that orders had been transmitted missionaries themselves preach less, from Lord Goderich, Secretary of State however, in the bazars and in the corfor the colonies, to permit additional ners of the streets and from house to missionaries from the United States to house, than formerly, owing to the insettle upon the island. Messrs. Todd, crease of other labors and cares. But Apthorp, Hutchings and Hoisington, and much more of this is done by native Doct. Ward, with their wives, (mentioned preachers and catechists, many of whom in the last Report as having embarked are employed daily in going from house for Ceylon in July,) reached Jaffna on to house and village to village. Concenthe 28th of October. Mr. Eckard, who trated labor, on a small spot, with a gradis to be connected with the seminary at ual enlargement of the field, and an occaBatticotta, and Mr. Minor, a printer, both sional extension of effort to more distant mentioned in former Reports, embarked places in the surrounding wastes, has at Salem, on the 29th of October, and been, from the first, the plan of operating arrived at Colombo on the 18th of Feb- in this mission; and after an experience ruary. of seventeen years, the missionaries are more inclined than ever to adhere to it. But not to the entire exclusion of more extended itinerant labors. 2. EDUCATION.-The apostolical missions were doubtless well adapted to the circumstances in which they were prosecuted. In the same circumstances, it would be presumption in us not to model our missions exactly upon theirs. If the Upon the accession of Doct. Ward to the mission, Doct. Scudder commenced a new station at Chavachery, a parish containing a numerous population. The governor had granted permission to occupy the old church-buildings and lands not only in Chavachery, but also in the two neighboring parishes of Navacooly and Cutchay, and in a parish on the eastern shore called Varany. Mr. Wins-printing-press were unknown; if books low arrived at Philadelphia March 25th. He brought with him his own three children and seven others belonging to the different families in the mission. June 26th, the school-bungalow at Tillipally was discovered to be on fire, and was speedily consumed, with the out-houses connected with it. The fire was attributed to an incendiary. Early in July an attempt was made to set fire to the church, but it failed at that time. On the night, however, of August 11th, it was consumed, excepting the walls, together with nearly all the Tamul tracts and books belonging to the station. were multiplied by the tardy and expensive process of writing; if education were not reduced to a science easily applicable to minds in every variety of situation; or if our missions were in the most civilized and best educated communities in the world;-then would the circumstances of our missions be vastly different from what they are in fact, and much more like the missions of the apostles as described in the New Testament. Then, too, should we be obliged, as they were, to give ourselves almost exclusively to merely oral instructions. Now, through the amazing and still increasing powers of the press, the vehicles of thought and sentiment, may easily be A Christian mission among the heathen, if fully and properly constituted, may be expected to include the follow-multiplied by millions upon millions and ing things; viz. sent throughout the inhabited world. 1. The preaching of the word in due And while the gospel is preached to the proportion; 2. Due attention to schools; 3. A proper use of the press; A proper use of the social principle; and 4. 5. An arrangement to secure the assistance of a competent native agency in each of the above-named departments of useful labor. 1. PREACHING OF THE WORD.-For this there are, as heretofore, fixed places adult, we may gather the youth, the child, and even the infant into schools. Soon after the mission was commenced in 1816, common free schools were established in different villages. Heathen teachers were necessarily employed to teach them. A more thorough system of Christian education was demanded, and the mission resolved to commence family boarding schools. In the beginning of 1818, six small boys were in trusted to the care of the missionaries. The establishment is placed at Manepy. The confidence of the people in the mis- The press at Nellore, under the Rev. sionaries gradually increased, and more Mr. Knight, Church missionary, has been boys, and even a few girls were placed much employed by our mission in printin the schools. The prejudices of caste ing books and tracts for the use of the were gradually overcome in the children, schools and for general distribution. until they cheerfully consented to prepare and eat their food on the mission premises. In the year 1823, the schools of the five stations contained more than 30 girls and 120 boys. The High School, or Seminary, at Batticotta, commenced in 1823, with 48 of the more forward boys in the boarding schools. Soon after this, the girls were collected from the different boarding-schools into one school at Oodooville. This was the origin of the female central school. In 1825, the other boys in the boarding-schools were all received into one school at Tillipally, which was called the preparatory school, as sustaining that relation to the seminary. In September, 1832, this school 4. USE OF THE SOCIAL PRINCIPLE is not so large, but that the members can -The territory occupied by the mission social worship, and for fraternal intermeet often together, for business, for was transferred to Batticotta, and united to the seminary as an introductory class. Some of the advantages of the boarding-school system are these:-(1.) It removes the children of heathen parents from the direct influence of idolatry, and brings them under constant Christian instruction. (2.) It secures regular and prompt application to study. (3.) The course of instruction may be continued so long as fully to answer the end designed. But the boarding and village schools should be carried on together. The number of village schools, connected with the several stations, is 87, containing 2,893 males, 642 females, 53 English pupils: Total, 3,583: Female Ceňtral School, 50: Seminary, 175: theological class, 25. Such are the studies of the Seminary, and such is the degree of Christian influence exerted upon the students, that almost without exception they are early convinced of the truth and divine origin of the Bible. In this sense they are all nominal Christians. Of 142 now pursuing the regular course of study in the institution, 53 have been baptised and received to Christian communion. The importance of a thorough education to those natives who are preparing to be preachers of the gospel to their countrymen, is so great, that the mission proposed to extend the course of preparatory, collegiate, and professional studies through ten years the collegiate studies Occupying six years instead of four. 3. THE PRESS.-There are now two presses belonging to the mission, with founts of type in Tamul and English. course. for business; together observe the monthThey hold frequent meetings ly concert, and the monthly prayermeeting for the young men preparing for the ministry; meet in consociation at stated times; meet for communion at the Lord's table quarterly; occasionally astion that God would revive his work; and semble for special prayer and supplicaoften unite their labors in each other's churches, or in the school-bungalow, or in itinerant tours among the natives. The social principle is also employed among the native converts. 5. ARRANGEMENT TO SECURE NATIVE AGENCY.-From the first, this has been a prominent object of the mission, as is shown under the head of Education. Through the blessing of God, there are already three native preachers, about 35 pious catechists, readers, and Bible and tract distributors, about 40 pious schoolmasters, and more than 50 pious members of the seminary training for future usefulness; and provision has been made for doubling the number of pupils in the seminary. The admissions to the church during the year 1833, have not been reported to the Committee. The whole number of native church members now living, is probably about 230. Mr. Meigs remarks respecting the progress of the mission "When I went there," [Batticotta] "the buildings were uncovered, and partly in ruins-the supposed habitation of innumerable evil spirits. by no means be persuaded to walk near the At certain times in the day, the people could old ruins, so great was their fear of the evil spirits. Now, they are supposed to have fled, as it is said they will not remain where missionaries take up their abode. Now, there are comfortable accommodations for two families, appropriate buildings for a large literary seminary, and the old church so far repaired that it may be used for the public worship of God. Sixteen years ago, there were no native free schools; now, there are twenty. Then, there were no church members; now, there are fifty-five connected with the station." About one half of the Bible has been translated. The New Testament, the book of Deuteronomy, and parts of the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Joshua, and twenty-three of the Psalms, have been printed. Works in progress, or to be undertaken during the year commencing June, 1833: Revision of the New Testament; Completion of the translation of Exodus; Revision of the book of Psalms; progress. Mind, among such a people as the Sandwich islanders, to a great extent is dormant; and it was not to be expected that the heart, however opposed by nature to the gospel, would at once rise in determined opposition to it. The direct tendency of our efforts, however, is to rouse both the intellect and the heart into action; and if the latter be unsanctified, we may expect to behold tokens, more and more unequivocal, of its Completion of Judges, Ruth, 1st and 2d Samuel, and hostility to truth and holiness. At the 1st Kings; Translation of 2d Kings; Works on Civil and Ecclesiastical History; Preparation of a set of Maps to be engraved; Translation of Colburn's Sequel to Mental Arithmetic; Daily Food (i. e. daily texts) for 1834; Hawaiian Christian Almanac for 1834, if possible, and if not, for 1835; Tract on Juvenile Improvement; Evils of Intemperance in the use of Tobacco; MARRIAGES.--Christian marriages were solemnized at ten stations during the year ending June 1833, amounting in all to 1430. CHURCHES.-The returns concerning the churches for the year ending June 1833, give at eight stations 669 members; and at five stations 72 admissions. Speaking of the native churches, the missionaries remark "We are constrained to say that many tares have been sown with the wheat. Still, we firmly believe the great Head of the church has here a chosen seed to serve him; we belive the church is here, that it is dear to him who purchased it with his own blood, and we would fain hope that he has designs of mercy towards it. Time only can determine how many of the visible members will stand firm when the period of trial shall approach. We ought to say that no signs yet appear of a great defection." A public fast was proclaimed by Kinau on the 3d of March 1833, with reference to the state of the nation. Not far from 2,000 attended public worship at Honolulu, both morning and afternoon. At the monthly concerts at Honolulu, in March, April and May, previous to the sailing of the mission to the Washington Islands, nearly 100 dollars were contributed by the natives alone for sending the gospel abroad. The Committee close their notice of this mission with remarking, that it becomes the petrons of missions among the heathen to understand what are the proper evidence that the holy cause is making Sandwich Islands there is yet far more of apathy, than opposition. But opposition must be expected before the gospel is victorious through the nation, and it will doubtless indicate an onward progress of the truth, rather than the re verse. MISSION ATTEMPTED AT THE WASHINGTON ISLANDS. The instructions forwarded by the Committee to the mission at the Sandwich Islands, to take no further steps in relation to the Washington Islands, did not arrive in season. At the general meeting in June 1833, the mission deputed Messrs. Alexander, Armstrong and Parker to commence the mission. The three brethren, with their families, on the 10th of August came to anchor in Massachusetts Bay, island of Nuuhiva. They remained there till the 16th of April, when they re-embarked, and arrived at the Sandwich Islands on the 13th of May. at war. They found the inhabitants of the Washington group few in number, and divided and sub-divided into small settlements, which are much scattered, and separated from each other by high ridges and mountains difficult and dangerous to pass. The tribes also were perpetually It would scarely be possible for a station to be formed any where, from which ready access could be had to more than a thousand people. Considering all the circumstances of the case, the Committee approve of the relinquishment of this mission; and it is but justice to say, that the courage, enterprise, and selfdenying zeal with which these brethren and their wives prosecuted their mission for eight months, in circumstances the most appalling to flesh and spirit, entitle them to the unabated confidence and affectionate sympathy of the Board. PATAGONIA. William Arms and Titus Coan, Missionaries. For prudential reasons the Committee did not describe the plan of this mission last year, thinking the publication of it might in some way embarrass their missionaries. The destination of these brethren was to the western coast of Patagonia, and it was expected that they would land about latitude 47 or 48 degrees south; but owing to a misunderstanding in regard to the destination of the vessel, they could not be carried to that point, and were landed at Gregory's Bay near the eastern entrance of the Straits of Magellan. From this point they found it impossible to cross to the western side of the mountains, or to the north of an extensive desert which separated them from the northern tribes. And as the population of the accessible country amounted to but a few hundreds, they thought it expedient to return to the United States. has, with the approbation of the Committee, left the missionary service. During the last fall and winter, the person claiming, under the laws of the State of Georgia, the land on which the buildings and improvements at Haweis are situated, proceeded to appropriate to his own use a portion of the buildings. At length, in consequence of a course of measures adopted by him, the premises were appraised and delivered over to him by the authorized agent of Georgia. The buildings and improvements were probably worth from $1,000 to $1,200. The mission family removed to Brainerd on the 12th of February. Owing to similar causes, and under circumstances nearly resembling those of the removal of Dr. Butler from Haweis, Mr. Worcester and his family were compelled to remove from New Echota on the 13th of March, and have since re Mrs. Hoyt, the widow of the late Rev. Ard Hoyt, and her daughter Anna, who have heretofore resided at Willstown, removed from that place in April to the State of Ohio. Messrs. Arms and Coan embarked at New York, August 16th, 1833; landed at Gregory's Bay, near the east-sided at Brainerd. ern entrance of the straits of Magelln, Nov. 144th; re-embarked at that place Jan. 25, 1834, and arrived at the Falkland Islands on the 28th; commenced their homeward voyage March 9th, and arrived at New London, Ct., May 14th. It is honorable to the shipmasters who befriended our brethren in the several stages of this route, that from the time of their embarkation at New York till their return to their native land, they were without expense to the Board. The Committee refer the Board to the Missionary Herald for the results of this mission. Their early return has been approved by the Committee. Mr. Arms has since been designated to the Indian Archipelago, and Mr. Coan to the Sandwich Islands. No farther measures are proposed, for the present, in Patagonia. MISSION TO THE CHEROKEES. CHURCHES.-No account has been received of any change in the churches at Brainerd, New Echota, Willstown, and Creek Path, during the past year. At Carmel five have been received to the church on profession of their faith, and eleven from other churches. Two or three of those admitted on profession were full-blooded Cherokees, entirely unacquainted with the English language. The whole number in that church in March was forty-nine. Six adults and seven infants have been baptised. Four Cherokees who spoke no English were added to the church at Haweis in October. The church at Candy's Creek has been much diminished during the past year. The whole number of persons connected with churches under the care of this mission, is at this time supposed to be about two hundred and fifty. PREACHING AND CONGREGATIONS.The amount of preaching in connection with this mission has probably been less during the past year, than in the preceding, owing to the circumstances of the missionaries and the Cherokees. John Huss, ordained as an evangelist in July of last year, continues to labor assiduously as a native preacher. Mr. Stephen Foreman, also, a Cherokee, was licensed to preach the gospel about a year since. He resides near Candy's Creek, and is much esteemed as an intelligent and A large number of copies of these works, and of others previously publish faithful preacher. Both these persons are now supported by the Board, and devote themselves principally to the worked, have been sent to that portion of the of the ministry. Cherokees residing west of the Mississippi. The congregations at some of the stations, and in other places where meetPROSPECTS OF THE MISSION AND OF ings are held, have been much diminish- THE CHEROKEES.-The difficulties and ed, owing to the removal of the people, discouragements under which the misand to the pernicious influence exerted sion was laboring at the period of the upon others by corrupting, white men, last Report, have continued and increasand the anxiety occasioned by the dis-ed during the year which is now closing. tressing condition of their national affairs. Other congregations remain nearly the same as heretofore. There has been little that was encouraging in the state of religious feeling. EDUCATION. The school at Brainerd received a few additional pupils after the termination of the school at Haweis. No considerable change is known to have taken place in the schools at Creek Path, Carmel, and Candy's Creek. The schools at Willstown and New Echota were attended by more pupils than during any previous year; the former embracing, last winter, about fifty, and the latter about thirty at the time of its discontinuance in July. Early in the year the missionaries were authorized to employ intelligent Cherokees to establish schools in the villages for teaching the people to read their own language. Two pious and intelligent Cherokees have accordingly been engaged in this work during the last half of the year; one of whom has six schools, including ninety pupils; and the other about one hundred and sixty pupils, in eight or ten different schools. The learners consist of males and females, of all ages, from seventy or eighty down to four or five years. The number of pupils at all the stations, was about one hundred and eighty. Including the two hundred and fifty taught by the two itinerant teachers, the whole number would be about four hundred and thirty. TRANSLATION AND PRINTING.-A third edition of the gospel of Matthew has been prepared, the translation of the Acts completed, and 3,000 copies of each have been printed. The gospel of John has been translated; also a tract on intemperance and another on marriage. The anxious and distracted state of the Cherokees, arising from the division of counsels which prevails among themselves, from the oppression and violence of the white settlers who are pressing in upon them, and from the darkness which hangs over their future destiny, almost wholly unfits them to listen to instruction, or to advance in any course of improvement. Add to this, that the most corrupting examples are continually set before the people, and that no art is left untried to draw them into intemperance and every kind of debauchery, and it will not seem strange that the mission has not made more progress during the year. The surprise will rather be that the labors of the missionaries have not been wholly counteracted, the spirit of the people quite broken, and the defection in the churches, and the depression of morals throughout the tribe far greater than appears to be the fact. The white settlers on the Cherokee lands are said already to outnumber the Cherokees themselves. How long this state of things will continue remains undecided. A delegation, opposed to removal, was appointed by the majority of the nation, and proceeded to the city of Washington last winter. Subsequently another delegation was appointed by that portion who are in favor of emigration, and proceeded to the same place, hoping to obtain some proposition from the government of the United States which should incline their people to make a treaty; or at least to obtain adequate provision for that portion who were disposed to remove. Both delegations returned without accomplishing any thing decisive. Considerable numbers have already removed to the country west of the Mississippi, and it is supposed that the number of those who think that removal, in the present unhappy and perilous condition of their people, is expedient, is increasing. The only alternative seems to be to leave their present country, or to submit to the jurisdiction of the State of Georgia. |