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other books, will be replaced by those The question will arise, whether it is which are the result of native labor; practicable for a single missionary soand thus native authorship will be en-ciety to superintend and direct a syscouraged, and the natives incited to literary labors by their own presses.

tem thus extended? It will be altogether practicable. More laborers would indeed be required in the corresponding Thus much it seemed necessary to say and financial departments. More tine concerning the mode in which the Board also would be required of the Prudential operates through its missions. The ob- Committee. But it is important to add, ject at which they aim is, with the divine that the labors and responsibilities in the blessing, to render the natives independ-executive department are not necessarily ent of foreign aid as soon as possible. and materially increased by an increase They would add, however, that they have || of the number of missionaries in any one no confidence in this or any other system of means, except as instrumentalities in the hands of the Almighty Spirit, which he is wont to bless. All will be in vain without his blessing. Yet that blessing is promised, absolutely pledged, in the work of propagating the gospel-may be calculated upon; and it is unbelief to fear lest, notwithstanding the explicit promises of God, the churches will labor in vain and spend their strength for nought in such a work as this.

mission. In general the missions of the Board are expected to organize themselves for united deliberation and business as soon as three brethren belong to them, and to become jointly responsible to the Prudential Committee for all their measures as a body and as individuals. Three hundred missionaries distributed among our existing missions, after they had actually entered their respective fields, would alleviate rather than increase the cares of those who have the direction of the missions.

It is difficult to say what number of laborers will be needed to carry out the The Board will not deem twelve hunplans which have been described. Prob- dred and sixty preachers of the gospel a ably twelve hundred ordained missionaries,||large number to be sent into the extendincluding those already in the service of the Board, would suffice for the countries beyond sea; and those should have the assistance of about three hundred laymen, as physicians, printers, teachers,

etc.

ed fields we have been contemplating. Already, through the smiles of heaven, more than one-twelfth part of the number are on the ground. But when all are there, supposing we assign to each man the responsibility of seeing the gosNo portion of the heathen will require pel published to 50,000 souls, our supply so many laborers or so great expendi- reaches only 63,000,000 of the hundreds tures, in proportion to the number of of millions which are to be evangelized. souls to be benefitted, as the migratory || But let the central situation of our contribes of the North American Indians. templated posts be considered. In AfriNo class of the heathen require more to ca they extend along its high placesbe done for them, while none are with its central regions-the sources of its greater difficulty brought under a per- great rivers-the seats of its more civilmanent christian influence. Nearly the ized and powerful native races and kingwhole of this race must undoubtedly re- doms. In Asia, they are the very foci of ceive the gospel from the hands of the the nations. They are the radiant points christian community in the United of light and influence. And should our States, if they are ever to partake of its thirty or forty contemplated seminaries blessings. That portion of them which enjoy the gracious visitations of the might properly be allotted to the Board, Holy Spirit, they will be like cities set would probably require sixty ordained on a hill; the light of them to be seen, missionaries, including those now labor- and the influence flowing out from them ing among them, and twice that number to be felt, over a wide extent of terriof lay catechists, teachers, etc., who tory. should be intelligent men, qualified to give religious instruction among the small bands with which they should have their residence.

Twelve hundred and sixty ordained missionaries, with four hundred and twenty lay assistants, besides female helpers, may be taken as the number of laborers which would be requisite to carry this plan into effect.

This plan of operation contemplates an annual and great increase of the number of missionaries and assistants in every department. To furnish twelve hundred and sixty ordained missionaries, which will afford only the scanty supply of one preacher to each 50,000 souls in the population embraced in this plan,and to accomplish this within any moderate number of years, must obviously

require an immediate and great advance | ing increased efficiency in any manner on our present augmentation of numbers, to the missionaries now in the field. by adding eight or ten a year. At this Nor are any calculations made for sendrate of increase it would require more ||ing out additional missionaries and asthan a hundred years to bring the re- sistants who may offer their services quisite number into the field; during during the year. Are, then, our missions which time more than three generations to remain from year to year, or for a sinof the heathen would go to the judg-gle year, just where they are-printing ment, followed by more than five generations of missionaries; thus leaving the great mass of the heathen now on the earth, and two or three generations who || may succeed them, unaffected by the renewing and saving power of the gospel.

Carrying this plan into effect involves also the necessity of a corresponding increase of pecuniary resources. Conducting the missions of the Board on their present scale, without reinforceinent or extra expenditures of any kind, will require at least $200,000 for the year terminating with next July. Then there is the existing debt of about $40,000 to be cancelled; then about forty mission families now under appointment to be sent out, requiring nearly $40.000 more;-calling for at least $280,000 from the treasury during the year. But here no calculation is made for enlarging our establishments for schools, for printing, for educating native schoolmasters and preachers, or for giv

no inore, gathering no more schools, training no more native assistants, exerting no more powerful and extensive influence of any kind on the heathen? Is the flowing in of missionary candidates, which, during the last year, has much exceeded any thing before, to be arrested, and no provision made for sending them forth, till after another meeting and another impulse of this kind? Or is there to be high ground taken by the whole christian community, which shall encourage every young man whose heart the Lord has inclined to go to the heathen, to offer himself; encourage the missionaries to extend their labors and avail themselves of all the facilities within their reach for enlightening and saving the nations; while the Committee shall also feel encouraged to take a wide survey of the heathen world, and to enlarge their plans, and hasten the whole work on to its completion, with an enterprise and vigor corresponding to the emergency of the case.

INTELLIGENCE FROM THE MISSIONS.

Nestorians of Persia.

EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF MR.
PERKINS AT OORMIAH.

THE portion of Mr. Perkins' journal insert-
ed in the number for August of last year,
closing on p. 296, brings the narrative of his
labors down to the end of December, 1835,

the period when the portion now to be inserted begins.

January 16, 1836. To-day we met in our new school-room for religious worship. It is a spacious and convenient room for a school; and no less so for our Sabbath service. To-day we tried to consecrate it to the Lord. I preached from 1 Kings, viii, 27. "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded:" and I Kings, ix, 3. "And the Lord said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication that thou hast made before me; I have hallowed

this house which thou hast built to put my name there forever, and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually." It is our fervent and unceasing prayer that this scripture may be fully verified in reference to our school

room.

17.

Our school-room fitted up in the Lancasterian style is an object of great curiosity. Multitudes, both of Mussulmans and Nestorians, throng in to inspect it. It is the first and the only Lancasterian school-room in central Asia. May it prove the harbinger of many thousands.

18. To-day our school commenced, and seven boys and young men from the city, attended.

19. Seventeen scholars from abroad joined our school, among whom are three deacons and one priest. They all lodge in a room in one of our houses. With the scholars from the city they make a very respectable school.

23. The scholars requested permission to attend our English worship, which was granted. Though they know noth

ing of our language, they listened with much interest. It is exceedingly gratifying, in this distant land, to have so many present at our worship. Mar Yohanna took his seat by my side in our little desk. He now understands enough of English to be much interested and profited by attending our religious meet-Joseph declined, being, as Mar Yohanna ings. This afternoon we held our Bibleclass exercise in the school-room. Most of the scholars were present. We conducted the services in the Nestorian language. The scholars read each a verse, which Mar Yohanna expounded, occupying all the time, with the exception of the very few suggestions which I found it proper to add to his appropriate and impressive remarks.

Mar Yohanna is a natural orator, though little accustomed to preaching; and the size of his audience-thirty in number, and the interest of the undertaking seemed to inspire him to-day, and rendered him quite eloquent. May the Lord bless this deeply interesting exercise to both preacher and hearers.

27. Our school succeeds admirably. But we greatly need slates, pencils, and other apparatus. By constant toil I am able to furnish reading in the Nestorian language, on school cards, two hours per day. Two hours the scholars read the Bible in their ancient language; and two hours they spend in writing with their fingers in the sand-boxes, and in learning arithmetic from the abacus: The time devoted to the two latter exercises a few of the older scholars spend in reciting to me in English. Two deacons in the school are very fine young men. They render great assistance to priest Abraham, as monitors of classes; and by alternating in writing, copy two or three cards per day for the use of the school.

31. Mar Joseph, the bishop resident at the village of Adah, passes the Sabbath with Mar Yohanna. He attended our English worship this morning. I had thus a Nestorian bishop at each elbow, in the pulpit, while preaching. Our Bible exercise in the Nestorian language this afternoon was extremely interesting. Mar Yohanna's remarks were again intelligent and impressive. Mar Joseph listened with deep attention. A priest from his village was also present. At this exercise we have a constantly increasing congregation. Last Sabbath Mar Yohanna repeated at the commencement of the services a short prayer which I had prepared for the daily use of the school. To-day he asked me if he should again repeat that prayer. I told him that perhaps he would prefer to

VOL. XXXIII.

make a short extemporaneous prayer. "No," said he, "I cannot pray from my heart so well as that prayer is written." So he again repeated the school prayer. At the close of the meeting I requested Mar Yohanna to invite Mar Joseph to add a few remarks. He did so, but Mar whispered to me in English, ashamed to preach extemporanously. Mar Yohanna's meaning was, that the other bishop was too diffident to preach in that manner. Mar Joseph expresses himself extremely interested in the exercise, and said that he greatly rejoiced to see such a commencement of preaching the gospel among the Nestorians. In their own churches, the worship of the Nestorians consists merely in chanting the Scriptures and their prayers in the ancient || Syriac, a language which few of the priests and none of the people understand.

Feb. 1. To-day the fast of Jonah, as the Nestorians call it, commenced. This is an annual fast of three days, and is kept in commemoration of Jonah's being swallowed by the whale. Most of each day is occupied in saying prayers at their churches. During their fasts the Nestorians abstain from animal food, but not for a single day from food altogether. Each fast is anticipated and followed by a byram, or festival, to make up for the self-denial in not eating during the fast, which is a season of the most disgusting dissipation. Thus the whole time is cut up into fasts and feasts, into partial abstinence and brutal indulgence; and scarcely a single week remains, during the whole year, undisturbed by senseless mummery or noisy revelling. The people proclaim, with great self-complacency, the number and length of their fasts, and seem to think themselves very religious, from the mere fact that about one half the year is included in their seasons of partial abstinence. I know not what more artful contrivance Satan could have invented, as a substitute for the pure religion of the gospel, than he has furnished in the fasts of these oriental churches. By common consent, it is lawful and proper among the Nestorians to labor during their fasts. The only difference between these and other times is abstinence from animal food. No matter how richly their vegetable dishes are served up. The palateable preparation of fast dishes is in fact quite a science among them. During their festivals it is regarded as highly improper to labor. The whole time must then be devoted to eating, drinking, and carousal

5

According to priest Abraham's explana- | moreover, that every one who was not tion of the subject, the Nestorians. do not regard their festivals as holy time, in the same sense in which they regard the Sabbath; but fate is always determined against those who labor on such days; so that their secular undertakings will universally be thwarted, and not improbably some signal calamity will also visit the offender. Happily our school is not much interrupted on these days of festivity. The most skilful hair-splitters among the Nestorians see nothing in reading or in arithmetic, which savors so much of secular labor as to constitute sin, or incur danger. But wo to the boy or the man who takes his pen to write during these festivals. Writing would be labor.

While our hearts are often ready to sink, in view of this degraded state of the Nestorians, their gross departure from the spirit and practice of the gospel, we are at the same time greatly cheered by circumstances of encouragement. The high ecclesiastics in our families and many others manifest deep interest in our religious instructions, and evident dissatisfaction with their own

senseless ceremonies.

intending to remain three years (an oriental hyperbole) must leave the school that moment; that he should not allow the American gentleman, who had come here to bless and save his people, to be thus treated, etc. The woman, with great mortification, took her boys and departed. All the scholars reiterated their testimony that she is a very bad woman, and had conducted most disgracefully in this instance. But we have doubtless multitudes to encounter just as low and mercenary in their feelings, and equally insensible to their highest welfare. The school was essentially benefitted by this rupture. The priest's and bishop's lectures have taught the scholars that they, and not I, are benefitted by their attending our school.

3. To-day the three days closed, and the sacrament was administered in the Nestorian church. The bishops importuned us to attend and partake with them. I was so unwell with a severe cold as to be unable to leave my room. Thus Providence furnished me with a satisfactory excuse for not going to the church. Oh that this dear people may become Christians in heart and in life, as well as in name, and then what a privilege will it be for us to unite with them, at the table of the Lord!

2. This afternoon the mother of three of our scholars came into our school and commenced disturbance, by ordering her sons to go home. Our priest, the teach- At evening Mar Joseph, who was still er, was at church saying his prayers. with Mar Yohanna, called at my room to The first monitor was frightened and inquire after my health. "You were sent for me. As I entered the school- unable to be at our church to-day," said room, the woman turned from the moni- he. Yes, I replied, I have been confined tor and directed her boisterous vocifera- to the house. "May God restore you tions to me. "My boys," said she, “shall || and long spare your life," said Mar Jostay no longer. They are not slaves. seph. "He has a great work for you yet They are related to the governor of our to do for our poor nation, who, we are village; and you, sir, shall not have the sensible, have wandered far from the glory of their presence in your school, right way." His evident solicitude for unless you pay them wages. Not wish- my health, and the solemnity with which ing to join in the encounter, I sent a boy he spoke, made me happy in the belief to the church to call priest Abraham, the that Mar Joseph's words expressed the teacher. The priest soon came, and the feelings of his heart. May the Lord woman being one of his flock, and a speedily accomplish for the Nestorians relative, was a little intimidated. The the great work to which the bishop repriest was much excited, especially by fers. the insult which he conceived the woman had offered me by her impertinent vociferations. "You and your nation," said he, addressing himself to her, "are most vile and ungrateful; and it is on this account that the Lord permits the Mohammedans to oppress us. Take your boys and be gone." By this time, Mar Yohanna, who was also at the church and had received some intimation of the affair, entered the school-room. He reiterated in yet stronger terms what the priest had said, and told the scholars,

4. Finding full employ for priest Abraham in translation and the preparation of school-cards; (no man in the province can use the pen so well as he can,) we sent to-day to the village, eight miles distant, for priest John, who has an excellent reputation, as a book scholar, to come and engage in our school.

5. Mar Yohanna went home, to attend the wedding of a brother. We all received an importunate invitation to accompany him, but the severity of the weather forbade us to go that distance.

6. Priest John came to engage as and receive my explanations of Scripteacher in our school. He is nearly ||ture, though their heads were long since forty years of age, a very interesting filled with their own mystic interpretaman, an excellent scholar for a Nesto- tions. The same childish expositions of rian, decidedly the best in their language the parables of our Lord, which were inI have met with, and naturally of a very troduced in the first centuries, and have serious contemplative character. since been so often repeated in the other oriental churches, still exist in all their youthful vigor, among the Nestorians. These must be gradually removed, and their place supplied by the simple truths of the gospel.

At evening read with our priests the parable of the sower, which is to be our Bible exercise tomorrow. They manifested deep interest in my explanation of the passage.

7. In the absence of Mar Yohanna, priest John conducted our Nestorian service. He gave in his own language the substance of my remarks on the passage, last evening. The scholars were very attentive, and the priests appeared solemn and deeply interested in the subject. Such preaching is quite new to the Nestorians. May it become the power of God to their salvation.

9. The priests inquired of me the particular object of our Monday evening prayer-meeting. I told them that we attached no importance to the time; but that it was our object to stir up each other's minds, and to pray for ourselves, our friends, and the kingdom of Christ. As an explanation of the practice I also read to them Malachi iii, 16. "They that feared the Lord spake often one to another," etc., and Heb. x, 25. "Not forsaking the assembling yourselves together, as the manner of some is," etc. The idea of such prayer-meetings appeared new and deeply interesting to the priests, and they expressed their regret that their own people have not hearts thus to assemble and pray.

10. We this evening revised the beautiful evening hymn, "The day is passed and gone," etc., which, with the assistance of priest Abraham, I recently translated into the Nestorian language for the use of the school. The priests seemed quite enraptured with it, and could scarcely cease singing it in the tune Pleyel's Hymn, to which I adapted the translation. The Syriac language quite eclipses the English in the softness and sweetness of its sounds.

11. This evening the scholars, who had obtained a copy of the evening hymn sung it of their own accord two or three hours in their room. Their style of singing it is, to be sure, quite rude; but it is most gratifying to witness their efforts to learn.

14. Priest John being unwell, priest Abraham conducted the Nestorian meeting. Our school-room was quite full, and the solemnity and apparent interest most encouraging. The priest was very correct in giving the same exposition which I gave in our private exercise last evening, with a single exception. On the parable of the leaven, forgetting himself for a moment, he introduced his old exposition, according to which every sentence and every word must have a particular figurative application. "Why," said he, "did the woman hide the leaven in three measures of meal? I will tell you why: it was because Noah had three sons, from whom the whole world was peopled. The meal is the world; and the three measures are three races of men." It is such puerile theology, rather than those grosser perversions of the Bible which savor of blasphemy, that we have to root out from the minds of the Nestorian clergy. In the evening we invited all the scholars to our room, to sing their evening hymn. The season was delightful.

15. To-day we commenced the great work of translating the Bible into the Nestorian language. Oh how unworthy are we for so important and glorious an undertaking! May the Lord prosper this, his own work, in our feeble hands. Happily the entire Scriptures exist in the ancient Syriac, the book language of the Nestorians; though in the Jacobite character.

But this ancient language is not understood by the people; and the Jacobite character is detested, and but very imperfectly understood by the ecclesiastics, who readily read the ancient Syriac in their own character. A translation of the Bible into the modern language, therefore, and an edition of the ancient Syriac Scriptures in the Nestorian character are both in the highest degree de

sirable.

13. We studied the parable of the This evening our attendant expressed Wheat and the Tares, and the parables strong apprehension of an assault from following, as our Bible lesson for tomor- thieves. "The impression is general in row. The priests were again deeply in- the city," said he, "that a gang of robterested. They are remarkably docile,bers are plotting an attack upon you by

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