they can now shew for their boasted superiority is the degree of fairness their skin exhibits above all others! Changanore Church-I came here last night. Ere I left Rannee, I obtained the following information. The Church was built by subscription, about 86 years ago: till this time the people belonged to Calicherry, 12 miles distant to the SouthWest. Connected with it are now 75 houses, or 400 souls. Five years since Mr. Baker had a School here: now 40 Boys might be taught, and only 14 of these are learning at their own expense. In the last year, baptisms 10; deaths 6; marriages 8. Catanars 3: Lucas, sixtytwo years of age-Joseph, thirty-threeLucas, twenty-nine; two last married, and have children. One Deacon. The entire number of Books sent here from Cottayam is 24 copies of different parts of Scripture. Tiruvella. Tiruvella Church-In consequence of the ignorance of some, and falsehoods of others who affected to direct us this day, we went so often astray, that we did not arrive here till five P. M., after a journey of seven, instead of three hours. This is most perplexing, as it prevents me reaching Calupar to night. I was considerably surprised at the gratuitous lies some people evidently told us this day, in reference to the way. Truly, in this land they seem to speak falsely for the love of it. The history of this Church is a subject of triumph to the Syrians. The distance from this to Naranam being four miles, the people desired to erect a Place of Worship for their own better accommodation, and obtained the sanction of Colonel Munro, the Resident, to this effect. The Naranam Catanar who now does the duty of the Church tells me that the Nairs often tauntingly tell them, that their Fathers, meaning the English, are now about to evacuate the country. I pray God that such a thing may never take place! If English influence were dead in Travancore, woe to the Syrians! This Church is a substantial neat building and would accommodate 400 or 500 persons. Mr. Baker has a School here. Recent Miscellaneous Entelligence. UNITED KINGDOM. King's College- From the Report delivered at the Second Annual General Court of the Governors and Proprietors, held on the 29th of April, it appears that the buildings, now erecting as the left wing of Somerset House for the purposes of the College, are in such a forward state as to warrant the expectation of the College being opened in October. The Principal has not yet been appointed; but Fifteen Professors have been nominated for the College, and the Head and Second Masters for the School. College Students are to pay Twenty Guineas per annum when nominated by Proprietors, and Twenty-five Guineas when not so nominated: in addition to which, fees, to be hereafter regulated, are to be paid for attendance on such Lectures as are not included in the Course of General Education. Pupils in the School are to pay Fifteen Guineas per annum when nominated by Proprietors, and Eighteen when not so nominated. The total sum contributed by Donation has amounted to 54,9651.7s. 3d. The number of Shares of 100%. taken, has been 753. Kahkewaquonaby-This Indian Chief, who addressed, very effectively, several of the Public Meetings which have been lately held, is a Convert from among the Chippewas. He is a Minister to his own tribe, and is in more immediate connexion with the Methodists in America, and is known among them by the British Name of Peter Jones. He has been for some time engaged, in conjunction with his brother, in translating the New Testament into Chippewa. Church Miss. Soc. Mr. James Preece (see p. 382 of our last Volume) arrived in safety at Sydney, on the 21st of December, on his way to New Zealand. Wesleyan Miss. Soc.-Mr. and Mrs. Bleby and Mr. Wilcox embarked for Jamaica on the 18th of May-Mr. Croggon lately returned from Zante, for a few months; Mr. Kay, from South Africa, after eleven years' absence, with Mrs. Kay and three children: and Mr. and Mrs. Rule, from St. Vincent's, on account of family affliction. WESTERN AFRICA. Wesleyan Miss. Soc.- Mr. and Mrs. Moister (see p. 157) arrived at St. Mary's, on the Gambia, after a pleasant and speedy passage. The Society and Congregation had been kept united since the death of Mr. Marshall. INDIA BEYOND THE GANGES. American Bapt. Miss.-The Rev. Eugenio Kincaid and the Rev. Francis Mason (see p. 30) arrived at Calcutta about the end of September, on their way to reinforce the Burmah Mission. WEST INDIES. Baptist Miss. Soc.—Mr. and Mrs. Gardner arrived at Montego Bay, Jamaica, after an unusually long voyage, having been on board 73 days. JUNE, 1831. Biography. NOTICES OF THE LATE REV. ABDOOL MESSEEH. SOME account of this well-known Convert from Mahomedanism, up to the period of his engaging in the service of the Church Missionary Society, appears at pp. 261-266 of our Volume for 1813; and at pp. 449-453 of that for 1827 are given a Memoir and Obituary. The accompanying Portrait is taken from a Picture painted at Calcutta, and now in the possession of the Society. It is much to be regretted, that a well-digested Life of this venerable and faithful Missionary has not appeared: our Volumes furnish ample materials, in his Journals and the various Notices which are scattered through them, as the ground-work of such a Memoir. of several months from an affection of the liver, died early in the morning of September 12, 1829: the circumstances of her death are thus narrated by one of the Missionaries: NOTICES OF OPIIA, A PRINCESS OF THE SANDWICH ISLANDS. OPIIA was one of the wives of the late King Tamehameha. After his death, in 1819, she married a Native, named Laanui. She was sister to Kaahumanu; and also to Kuakini, Governor of Hawaii, who was commonly known by the name of John Adams. The American Missionaries in the Island of Oahu, where she died, thus speak of her : She was reckoned among the early subjects of the work of the Lord, and has always stood foremost in the Christian Ranks. She was a tried friend of the Mission. With her own hand she warded off the blow of a knife, aimed at Mr. Bingham by one of the crew of the Dolphin. She went from house to house, and exhorted the people to observe the tabu respecting women, although opposed in her good work by the threats and knives of angry men. When left in charge of this island last winter, she resolutely opposed and stopped the firing of cannon on the Sabbath, in honour of Washington's birth-day. In her private life she was very exemplary. She was known to spend much of her time in conversing privately with individuals on the subject of personal religion, and pressing home duty upon the conscience with feeling and effect. This pious Native, after an illness I spent most of yesterday by her bedside, and had returned home to sleep. A messenger called for me at one o'clock: I hastened to her house, and found her fast going into the arms of Death. I took hold of her hand, and called her by name: she answered me. I then asked her if she had thoughts of God: she replied. "Yes"-"Where do you put your trust?" "In Jesus, in Jesus Have you no thoughts for your kindred ?" “I have thoughts for my kindred "- Are you afraid of death ?" "No," was her reply. She appeared so low, that I desisted from asking further questions, being satisfied with the good testimony which she had given her friends that her hopes 66 were anchored on the rock Christ Jesus. ham: when he arrived at half-past-two, Shortly after this, I sent for Mr. Bingher pulse had stopped, and she appeared in great agony. I then left her for halfan-hour, to visit a sick foreigner. When I returned, the scene was fast closing. It was indeed a house of mourning. Her husband, Laanui, sat by her side, assiduously attentive to all her wants: his eyes refused a tear, while it was evident that his heart was ready to burst with He It is impossible to describe the scene which followed. Though the voice of lamentation was suppressed within doors, a loud wailing was heard from hundreds of voices without. Mr. Bingham soon proposed to join in prayer. The Governor ordered the people to be silent, while we, with heavy hearts, spread out our case before the Lord. After this the people resumed their wailing, and we retired. The funeral took place on the following day, which was Sunday; and is thus described : The body was laid out after the manner usual in America, to which was added a wrapper of oil-cloth. She was placed in a coffin lined with lead, covered with crimson velvet and brass ornaments. Having assembled at the house, the procession moved to the Church in the following order: 1. The coffin borne on the shoulders of men. 2. The mourners, among whom were the King-Kaahumanu and Hoapiliwahine, sisters of the deceased-Aichea, Kinau, Laanui, and Gov. Boki and his wife. 3. The Native Members of the Church. 4. The Missionaries. 5. A respectable number of Foreign Residents. 6. Such of the common people as chose to follow. the Services, which were unusually solemn and impressive, the procession returned, in the same order, to the dwellinghouse. The crowd of people were then sent away; after which the body was carried by the Relatives, Members of the Church, and Missionaries, and deposited in the house by the side of the King and Queen. CHARACTER AND OBITUARY OF FRANCES CASEY, OUR notices of this Christian Female The Lord has been pleased to call to Himself one of our mothers in Israel. She was the oldest Member, and the oldest Leader, in our Society. The early part of her history has died with her. Her complexion was jet black. She was born a slave, and continued in slavery till past the noon of life. In that capacity, she was always remarkable for her diligence and uprightness. By the fruit of her industry she purchased her own freedom for 1601. currency; and, afterward, bought the liberty of one of her daughters and a granddaughter. She has been a Class-Leader thirty years, and has long had three large Classes under her care. Her exemplary character, and the closing scene of her life, are thus described by Mr. Banks: During the whole of her religious After career, she maintained an unblemished character. By great industry and frugality she kept herself free from debt; and often said, "I owe no one any thing but love." She always paid great deference to the Ministers of the Gospel, esteeming them She very highly for their works' sake. often prayed for them with the greatest earnestness; and thanked God for sending them over the mighty deep, to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. She would often contrast those times of ignorance which lived in her recollection, with the present day, and say, "Now, my Dear Friends, What hath God wrought! The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up; and the poor have the Gospel preached unto them. Under God, we owe our all to the Missionaries." Her natural temper was very irritable; but she experienced the truth of this divine promise, A new heart will I give unto you, and a right spirit will I create within you; and she ever after followed She was not merely peace with all men. |