Oswego, N. Y. A box. Philadelphia, Pa. A box and map, fr. ladies of Mr. Barnes's chh. for Mrs. Graves, Bombay. Reading, Pa. A box, fr. youth's miss. so. for 88 18 35.52 The following articles are respectfully solicited from Manufacturers and others. Printing paper, to be used in publishing portions of the Scriptures, school-books, tracts, etc. at Bombay, | and at the Sandwich Islands. Writing paper, writing books, blank books, quills, slates, etc. for all the missions and mission schools, especially for the Sandwich Islands. Shoes of a good quality, of all sizes, for persons of both sexes; principally for the Indian missions. Blankets, coverlets, sheets, etc. Fulled cloth, and domestic cottons of all kinds. James Gray, Richmond, Va., Treasurer of the Contral Board of Foreign Missions, acknowledges the receipt of the following sums, viz. Richmond, 1st chh. 136; Mrs. and Miss S. 2; Rev. I. S. A. mon. con. 27; Miss M. Booth, 10; Mrs. M. Dinwiddie, 10; Rev. T. B. 5; S. R. 75e. I. I. B. 5; A. M. C. 1; Mrs. T. 5; M. E. D. 3; coll. by Rev. H. Read, 205,78; presb. chh. Shocko Hill, 149.70; Mecklenburg, a lady, 2,50; Shepperdstown chh. 23,35; S. J. Cabell, 2; Mrs. Howard, 1; Hanover, Mrs. M. Austin, 10; Portsmouth, 1; Norfolk, (Of which to constitute Rev. J. D. MATTHEWS an Hon. Mem. 50;) 125,16; Fluvanna, Miss G. 1,50; servants, 71c. Providence chh. Halifax, 30; Raleigh chh. for sch. at Scio, 108,25; Fayetteville, N. C. Young misses so. 1,30; fem. asso. 3; indiv. 7,25; New Hope chh. 7,75; Hillsboro' chh. To constitute Rev. S. R. HOUSTON of Scio, an Hon. Mem. 50; Chapel Hill, Students and faculty, 76,75; Village, 23,25, to constitute Rev. J. PHILLIPS and Rev. E. MITCHELL Hon. Mem.; Newbern chh. 75,70; Washington chh. (Of which to constitute Rev. WILLIAM A. SHAW an Hon. Mem. 50;) 150; $1,260 70 James Adger, Charleston, S. C., Treasurer of the Southern Board of Foreign Missions, acknowledges the receipt of the following sums, viz. Charleston, Circular chh. 663,50; S. Rockwell, 18; G. T. Snowden, 40; indiv. 217; coll. by Rev. I. A. Mitchell, 1,885,35, a new year's thank. off. 20; juv. miss. so. 80,08; Rev. I. S. K. Legare, 11; ROBERT LATTA, which constitutes him an Hon. Mem. 100; a friend, 10; do. 1; a fem. friend, 10; for ed. of Greek youths now in U. S. 55: mon. con. in 2d presb. chh. 10; do. in 3d do. 33; R. N. 5; Rev. Mr. D. 5; Rev. R. W. James, brothers and sisters, and W. Wilson and fam. for sch. at Cape Palmas, 65; la. so. for Chickasaws, 25; Mrs. V. 50c. Milledgeville, Maj. CAMPBELL, which constitutes him an Hon. Mem. 100; I. H. Lumpkin, to constitute PAYSON LUMPKIN an Hon. Mem. 100; R. K. Hines, to constitute Rev. ALONZO CHURCH, D. D. of Athens, and Rev. C. P. BEMAN Hon. Mem. 100; Marion Dist. A friend, to send out miss. 10; Augusta, Mon. con. 41,62; Sparta, Ga. Rev. S. Taylor, to constitute GARDINER KELLOGG an Hon. Mem. 100; Little River, Asso. ref. cong. of New Hope and Ebenezer, 110; James Island, Mon. con. 10; chh. 13; Sumpter Dist. Mrs. L. Mc Fadden, 50; Zion chh. 7; juv. miss. so, of do. 26; Mrs. W. 5; Concord chh. 60; Washington chh. Mon. con. 53,50; Decamp co. Mon. con. 34,12; Columbus, Presb. chh. 25; Florida, A friend, 20; for tracts, 10; Hancock co. Ga. JOSEPH BRYAN, to constitute himself and Rev. B. GILDERSLEEVE Hon. Mem. for outfit of Rev. D. Ball, 150; Darien, Juv. miss. so. for chil. in Ceylon, 20: Darlington, Juv. miss. so. for Julius Dubose at Wheelock, 10; mon. con. 25; Edisto Island, Juv. miss so. 10; Orangeburg chh. Mon. con. 5,16; Winsboro', Contrib. in chh. 60; la. sew. so. for James L. Merrick at Cap Palmas, 20; Aimwell chh. 5; Columbia, Mon. con. 50; fem. asso. to constitute Rev. GEORGE W. BOGGSs and Rev. JAMES L. MERRICK Hon. Mem. 100; indiv. 40,95; Oglethorpe co. T. Gilham, 20; Rev. E. Farr, 15; Rev. J. Harrison, 13; Athens, Miss. G. I. 4,17; c. box, 22,83; Alcovia chh. 5; King's Tree, Williamsburg, Mon. con. 20; Abbeville Dist. Rehoboth ehh. (of which to constitute Rev. HUGH DICKSON an Hon. Mem. 50.) 72; Mount Zion chh. 50; Sumpterville, C. box, 25; Ded. discount and postage, 4,64; $4,865 44 cessible than those connected with the temples. The brahmins here are ex LETTER FROM MR. POOR, DATED AT tremely numerous, but learning among MADURA, MAY 3, 1836. THE removal of Mr. Poor from Jaffna, in Ceylon, to Madura, has been repeatedly mentioned in previous numbers. In writing from the latter place, and assigning the reasons for resigning his office as principal of the seminary at Batticotta, and joining the mission on the continent, he gives the following account of the them is in a low state. The principal supporters of idolatry rely mainly upon the outward pomp and parade of their numerous festivals for captivating the imaginations of the people, and holding their minds in bondage. But the lofty towers, and the ten thousand pillars of the temple, appear to my mind, less formidable obstacles to the progress of truth, than certain individuals with whom I am acquainted at Jaffna. These, while they profess to despise the vulgar prac Extent and promising Aspect of the tices of idolatry, have so exercised Field. themselves in the subtleties of a refined system of Hindooism, or Deism, they are almost beyond the influence of the ordinary means of imparting to them the light of truth. Their influence upon the multitude, who cannot enter into their subtleties, is great and disastrous. On my arrival at Madura, after a few weeks of inquiry and observation, I saw spread out before us a field for missionary labors, which I had not before conceived of. Regarding the mission premises as a centre, there is within the compass of a single mile a greater amount of population than is to be found in the whole extent of the field of our labors in Jaffna. The population consists principally of idolaters, the worshippers of Siva and Vishnu. The Fort of Madura, which contains forty or fifty thousand inhabitants, is the principal seat of idolatry in Southern India. It is indeed a strong hold. Idolatry appears to be the all engrossing subject, and wears a bold front. There are circumstances, however, which render even the Fort of Madura a more inviting field of labor than Jaffna. Many of the brahmins, some of the highest ranks, are engaged in the service of government; consequently they are, in an important A small portion of the population, sense, detached from the temple service, consisting of some thousands, are cathoand comparatively indifferent to its in-lics, who are as sheep having no shepterests. They are of course more ac- herd. We have now two schools estab VOL. XXXIII. The people of Madura are more inquisitive, and more enterprising than those in Jaffna. This is a circumstance highly favorable to missionary operations. There are in the Fort of Madura probably from six to ten thousand Mohammedans. These, in point of intelligence and respectability, are evidently superior to the mass of Hindoos. They are more accessible and affable, and less bigoted than any other of this class, whom I have seen or heard of. I have had more intercourse with Mohammedans the few months I have been in Madura, than during my twenty years residence in Jaffna, where they are quite numerous. Several of the pupils in our English school are Mohammedans. 29 lished among them, and find far more the missionaries by whom they were easy access to them, than to the catho-educated, in whom they have confidence, lics in Jaffna. and who ought to be better qualified than others to superintend their labors. All the seminarists that can be spared from Jaffna, for many years to come, might be advantageously employed, In the Fort of Madura alone, there are, it is said, more than one hundred schools. But owing to the defective method of teaching, and to the want of suitable school books, very little useful knowl-some in Madura, and many in the suredge is acquired by the children. They rounding villages. The importance of seem to aim at little more than to learn keeping such a field of labor before a few arithmetical tables, and to read them and the native Evangelical Society and write on the olas a few popular in Jaffna is obviously very great. This books, most of which are worse than view of the subject so deeply impressed useless. In those numerous schools the my mind, that I was forced to the concluprinted character is not known, nor are sion that if it were my main object to printed books, even of a strictly elemen- promote the welfare of the seminary tary kind, acceptable, though gratuitous-and of the native churches in Jaffna, the ly offered. There is, however, a wide field of my future labors should be in and inviting field for elementary educa- || Madura, or in some other place on the tion, which will doubtless abundantly re-continent. ward those who skilfully cultivate it. On my return to Jaffna, after my first The Fort of Madura is the centre of visit to Madura, the subject was discussthe district. Every measure of success ed at length by the brethren, the result that is realized here will exert a salutary of which was an unanimous opinion that influence upon the remotest villages. the best interests of the associated misThe doings at the palace were quickly sions required that I should be stationed reported throughout the district. One either at Madura, or at some other place, result of this was, that we had visitors hereafter to be selected on the continent. from villages in every direction, who This result was in full accordance with made important inquiries, and solicited my own views and wishes, and I accordspecimens of our tracts and school-ingly resigned my office in the semibooks. nary. I may remark that I never had a more Reasons for leaving Jaffna-Native impressive view of the importance of the Church. These are some of the considerations which rendered Madura a most important and inviting field of labor. As I surveyed it from day to day, and had further intercourse with different classes of the community, my mind was greatly roused to the importance of the mission being reinforced by one or two missionaries acquainted with the language, and able to enter at once and extensively upon the more important branches of missionary labor. The harvest is indeed perishing for want of laborers. On comparing the state of things here with that in Jaffna, it appeared to me that the urgency of the case demanded the services of one or two of the senior brethren of that mission, however important might be the post of labor which they there occupied. One leading object of my visit to Madura was to ascertain what were the obstacles to the employment of our seminarists as native assistants, and also, if possible, to ascertain how those obstacles might be removed. Most of these difficulties arise mainly from the removal of native assistants from the influence of seminary than on the day of my leaving it; nor greater pleasure in the performance of any duty in connection with it, than that of delivering it over, under such circumstances to other hands. May it prosper a hundred fold under the auspices of my successors in office. On leaving Jaffna the state of the native churches awakened a livelier interest and a deeper solicitude than almost any other subject in my mind. Very much, as it regards the ultimate and speedy triumphs of the gospel in Jaffna, is evidently suspended upon the stand that will be taken by the first generation of Christians. Whether they will rise superior to the maxims of the world, and set themselves against idolatry in every form, or whether they will yield to the adverse influences to which they are exposed, and fall, as did the seven churches of Asia and the churches of Tanjore, remains to be seen. In reference to this important subject, the senior brethren of the mission spent a whole day with several of the more influential members of our churches. The object of the meeting was to point out to them, in the light of God's word, the relation they sustain to the cause of Christ, and to their countrymen, and the duties flowing from that relation; that as they are the inheritors of the soil, and the heads of families and of tribes, every thing valuable to them and to their posterity was suspended upon the course which they would deliberately and unitedly pursue. In the course of the day, five or six fundamental points of a practical nature were brought under discussion, and on each the views of the native church members present were elicited. The principal points were, the paramount importance of their taking the word of God as their guide in doctrine and practice, in opposition to the false maxims of the world, and the sinful compliances of native Christians with many of the pernicious practices of their heathen relatives; the importance of taking a high stand as Christians, and acting on the offensive, as well as defensive, according to the spirit and injunctions of the Bible; the importance of family religion, the observance of the Sabbath, and of discountenancing marriages of Christians with heathen; and various practices hostile to the spirit of the gospel. All present appeared to feel that we were engaged in important business; and I trust the great Head of the Church was with us. We have now twenty-five schools in operation, established since my visit here in December last. Of these schools fifteen are in the villages around Madura, the remotest being nearly thirty miles distant. In the Fort of Madura we have ten schools, of which two are English and one a female school. According to the custom of the country, no schools are taught on the day of new and full moon, nor on the succeeding day. This circumstance has induced us in our monthly settlement with schoolmasters to reckon time by lunar rather than by solar months. This again has introduced the practice of assembling the schoolmasters and their assistants or monitors, twice a month, on the days immediately succeeding new and full moon. At one of these meetings they receive their monthly wages, which does not fail to secure a punctual attendance. Both days, which are pagan holidays, are spent in giving and receiving appropriate instruction, the schoolmasters forming one class, and the monitors. whom it is designed to train as schoolmasters of a higher grade, another class. On Friday last was held our second lunar meeting, it being the day after full moon. I then held a four hours session with about fifty persons as my pupils. These were all seated on the floor of the verandah in a circle at my feet, while I only was On the last Sabbath previous to Mr. Poor's leaving Jaffna, March 6th, 1836, six-seated on a chair. Having been so long teen persons were admitted to the church, of whom thirteen were members of the seminary, and three were schoolmasters and superintendents. In another letter, dated at Madura, August 1st, Mr. Poor makes the following statements respecting the Extending Labors of the Mission A promising Schoolmaster. I remark here generally that my best anticipations in coming hither have been thus far realized, and I am pursuing my labors with higher hopes than I have been wont to entertain, that before many years have passed away there will be some general movement in India favorable to the cause of truth and righteous ness. in the country, I am not wont to consider how such a sight would strike a stranger recently from America. He would probably suggest that true modesty required either that I should sit upon the floor, or that my audience, many of whom are my superiors in years, should be seated on chairs. But it is not easy to say which of the two would be the more difficult to be done. Neither would be tolerated by my audience.The first hour was spent in free conversation with the schoolmasters. The second hour was spent in attending to the first proof, contained in the almanac for this year, of the spherical form of the earth. While illustrating this point by the globe, I pointed to Madura and to my native country, and inquired what direction I must travel if I would return *Excepting English schools. In this particular we have made an important innovation, teaching as Lest I should not very soon make notices from my journal down to the pre- usual on both days. This is truly indicative of what sent time, I will here notice some occurrences which have taken place within a few days past, and which may be considered a fair specimen of many notices made in short hand in my journal. may be effected by introducing the English language. Even brahmin boys make but comparatively little objection to christian lessons in English. This has recently roused my mind to the importance of introduc in the study of English on the Lancasterian plan into some of our common free schools in the Fort, if not in the village. home. Some said west, and others east. All were pleased when I admitted, and showed them clearly that all were correct in their answers. These observations appeared to bring the subject home to their minds as a reality that the earth must be round. After contrasting this with what is taught in the puranas, I pointedly put the question, If the puranas teach what is incorrect respecting the earth, how can you believe their statements respecting things in other worlds? If you detect me in telling untruths respecting things in Madura, how can you believe my statements respecting things in America, etc.? They then read in a class from the Almanac, the parable of the sower, which is the appointed lesson to be committed to memory by the members of the first class in all the schools the ensuing month. This parable I explained and applied. A schoolmaster belonging to Karnoor was appointed superintendent of six of our most distant schools, which are within a few miles of his native village. This is a man of uncommon promise. His attention to the christian religion was arrested by means of some tracts which I gave to his cousin, a schoolmaster in Karnoor, on my way from Tondy to this place in October last. After reading the tracts he was induced to come to Madura and offer his services as a schoolmaster in his native village. On being accepted he soon collected fifty or sixty children, and introduced at once our catechisms and scriptures. In this particular he far surpassed the other schoolmasters in the service of the mission. From the commencement he has been very diligent in the study of the Bible. He frequently visits us, though he lives fifteen or sixteen miles distant; and whenever he comes he has many pertinent questions respecting what he has read to propose. On Wednesday evening he made his appearance, while the mission families were engaged in the weekly prayer-meeting. After meeting I took him to my study to speak with him. He immediately proposed that we should pray. I first led in prayer and he followed, using to a considerable extent forms of prayer which he had committed to memory. I then had a free conversation with him concerning himself, and the state of the people in the village where he has recently established a new school, which was at first attended by eight or ten children of brahmins. It appeared that he had been so zealous in teaching christian lessons, that many were alarmed, and have withdrawn their children from the school. This circumstance suggested the expediency of appointing the schoolmaster as a superintendent of schools, and of employing a young brahmin in his place as school teacher. This suggestion in both particulars gave him much joy, and he observed, "This is by the special favor of the Lord." Before he returned home I furnished him with an assortment of tracts, and gave him special instructions regarding his future labors. He intimated that it might be impossible for him to do his duty, on account of the opposition he might meet from the people. In such a case he requested that he might be employed at the station in Madura. I feel a lively interest in his welfare, but know that it is extremely doubtful whether he is to be likened to the second, third, or fourth kind of soil, described in the parable of the sower. EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF MR. POOR, AT MADURA. March 23, 1836. Am daily visited by persons of respectability with whom I became acquainted while on a visit to this place. Had an opportunity to-day of addressing fifteen or eighteen at one time, and at considerable length on the great truths of the gospel. 24. The schoolmasters find it difficult to make a free use of our printed books, and to teach our christian lessons. Some effort is necessary on the part of the teachers, before they themselves can read our books fluently. They have no wish to introduce Christianity into their schools, if they can get their wages without doing so. The fears and jealousies of the people are awake on this subject, and they doubt the expediency of accepting our offers of assistance. Much patience and free intercourse with the people are necessary, in order to remove their prejudices, and to show them the value of the boon we are ready to confer upon them. Furnished this day six schoolmasters with sets of our school books, and copies of our standard tracts. They have each of them a small number of children under their tuition, from whom they receive a small pittance. They offer their services to the mission, in the hope of bettering their condition. It will hence appear what is the main-spring in our native free school establishments. And this may be the appropriate place for considering an objection that will naturally arise against the practice of supporting heathen schoolmasters with the |