1811.3

Missions of the

St. Kitt's, the Danish West India islands,
and the Cape of Good Hope. In Jamaica,
the progress has been slow,

Missions have also been attempted to the following places, which have not succeeded; to Lapland in 1735; to the coast of Guinea, in 1737, and again in 1768; to the negroes ia Georgia, in 1738; to the slaves in Algers, in 1739; to Ceylon, in 1740; to Persia, în 1747; and to Egypt, in 1752. Upper Egypt, there was some prospect of success; but the wars of the beys made the stay of the Brethren unadvisable.

United Brethren.

The general synods of the Brethren's tburch appoint a select number of bishops and elders, called the Elders' Conference of the Unity, to superintend its concerns till the next general synod, which meets usually every seven or eight years. This conference is divided into four committees, to one of

457

their dwellings. Those who are awakened to a sense of their lost state by nature. people, and are particularly attended to. and their need of a Saviour, are called new If they manifest an saved, they are admitted as candidates før earnest desire to be baptism, and, after a term of instruction and probation, baptized. If they prove by their after being for a time candidates for the com→ conduct the genuineness of their profession, munion, they become communicants. Each of these classes have separate meetings, in instruction. Separate meetings are also held which they receive suitable exhortation and with the children, single men, single women, married people, widowers, and widows. in which the admonitions adapted to their respective situations and circumstances are giyen. Each of the baptized comes at stated times to converse privately, the men with the missionary, the women with his wife, by which a more intimate knowledge vice given. To assist in this important obof them is obtained, and appropriate adject of acquiring a knowledge of the state of individuals, in large missions, assistants of both sexes are chosen from among the converts, to visit from house to house, attend mony. These assistants meet the missionto the sick, preserve order, and promote hararies at stated times, in order to confer with them on the state of the congregation.

which the care of missions is entrusted. With this committee all missionaries correspond. From their letters and diaries, a Secretary makes extracts, of which copies we eat and read to all the congregations missions. All things relating to misms are first discussed in this committee; bat no resolutions are formed without the currence of the whole conference. In settlement, one brother is appointed perintend the mission; but he never without consulting his fellow-labourers.

A sidety is formed among the Brethren in The assistants are allowed occasionally, on
Tan, which takes the whole charge of week days, to address the congregations.
sion at Labrador, and assists the other Other persons of good character are used
, especially those in the British do-
Rais, as much as lies in their power.

A all vessel is employed to convey the order. At times, a council is held with a

as servants in the chapel, and they meet
to consult on subjects respecting outward

aries of life to the missionaries on

cast of Labrador once a year; and gregation, in which all things relating to the number of inhabitants chosen by the con

pwards of forty years, no disaster has en this vessel, so as to interrupt the radual communication, though the

tion is of a very dangerous kind. In Gerdam, a similar society was formed; the troubles in Holland have put it out

weltare of the settlement are discussed. When the congregation consists of slaves, the external regulations are necessarily somewhat different. The internal regulations are the same in all. Those who violate the precepts of the Bible, are shut out from

ir power to assist much at present. church-fellowship till they have given proof

Eder society of the same kind exists

the Brethren in America. These all the Brethren's settlements among free

of repentance. Schools are established in

cieties have done all in their power port the accumulated burthens of the ; but they have no power to begin sons, or to send out missionaries,

persons; and a Sunday-school, by permission
of some planters, has been begun in Antigua.
Spelling-books and Catechims, and parts of
the Scriptures, have been printed in various

rested solely in the Elders' Con- languages. In all the settlements, the con

of the Unity.

regulations of the settlements are

where the same.

ed to all the heathen to whom the es can have access, who likewise

The Gospel is

visit and converse with thêm în UST, OBSERV. No. 115.

gregations meet, once every day, for social
worship; and on Sundays, the missionaries
are employed from break of day till dark,
in various spiritual duties; which also oc-
cupy them much on the week days. "The
Brethren have found by long experience,

30

that the word of the cross is the power of 'God unto salvation to all them that believe.' They, therefore, preach Jesus and him crucified, sowing the word in tears, with patience and courage; knowing that they shall hereafter reap with joy."-There is no part of the doctrine of our Saviour and his apostles, which the missionaries do not gradually endeavour to inculcate into the minds and hearts of their people; and, through the mercy and power of God,the most blessed effects have attended their labours."

For the maintenance of this important and extensive work, no fund whatever exists. It is supported wholly by voluntary contri'butions of the Members of the Unity, and 'of several other friends, without whose aid, indeed, poor and few in number as are the Brethren, their large missions could not be preserved. Without the utmost frugality, both at home and abroad, the sums subscribed would be inadequate to the expen liture. The expense of the missions has increased to 6000 per annum. The num"ber of missionaries is 150 exclusive of about 80 widows, children, and resting inissionaries. When the expense of journies and voyages, building and repair of chapels, &c. &c. are taken into the account, this sum will appear small as compared with its effect; but large as compared with the number and abilities of the contributors. The war has increased the ex'penses, but diminished the receipts, through the disasters which have befallen the Brethren's settlements in Holland and Germany. Some of the missions, indeed, are supported to a considerable degree, by the zeal and diligence of some of the Brethren, who apply the earnings of their labour in this way; but this cannot be done in all cases. The missionaries receive no stated salaries, but they transmit a list of necessaries, which, if approved, are procured and sent to them. Their children and widows are provided for.

Such is the account given of the state of the missions of the United Brethren. Can it be that they should fail for want of sup'port? We will not believe it possible. We recommend their claims most earnestly to the attention of our readers. Subscriptions and donations will be received by the Ministers of their congregations; and by the Rev. C. L. Latrobe, No. 10, Nevil's Court, Fetter Lane.

Those who desire further information re'speeting the missions of the United Brethren, may consult Crantz's History of the Brethren, and of the Greenland Mission; Loskiel's History of the North American

Indian Missions; the Periodical Accounts of the Missions, printed three or four times a year, and sent to subscribers; and Oldendorp's History of the Mission in the Danish West India Islands.

BAPTIST MISSION IN BENGAL.

(Continued from p. 395.) EXTRACT of a letter from John Peter, mis sionary in Orissa, dated May 1810.

"I am happy to inform you that one Ooriya, named Sadoo-das has eaten with me. He staid a night and a day at Krishnoo's Every Lord's day about twenty or thirty per sons attend at my house. Most of them are Europeans. Many of them shew great love to me, and much happiness in seeing the Gospel preached to the heathen. They pray for the cause of God. We are pretty well We pray always for all the brethren, and for the cause of God, and speak the word of God to all men, as far as the Lord enables us."

May 5. "On Lord's day morning the 15th ultimo, almost all the European officers and ladies of Balasore came to worship. They gave ine notice of their coming, and reques ted me to wait till they arrived. They heard with great seriousness. The Europeans here behave very kindly to me."

"I am in great want of some work on the Scriptures, and some other books, of which I inclose you an account. An Irishman, a Roman Catholic, often asks me for a Bible. He says he never saw the Bible till he saw mine. Have pity on this poor fellow, and send him a Bible. It is the Bible alone that contains the way of salvation."

In the Quarterly Letter of June 25, 1810, they make mention of ten persons having been added to the church at Calcutta, within the last three months; of their being fa voured with much harmony through all the departments of the mission, and, except in the case of Mrs. Moore and the family of Mr. Robinson, with a considerable portion of health; of their hope to give part of the holy Scriptures in two new languages in the course of the year; of their having begun to print the New Testament in the language of the Seiks; and of a fout of Telinga types being nearly ready.

Extracts of letters from C. C. Aratoon at
Jessore, in July and August, 1810.

"On Saturday evening, June 16, I married brother Kureen to the daughter of Panchoo-sah. Since I wrote you last, I have baptized eleven persons, viz. Sister Puncha nun; a Hindoo widow, named Rampuyari Panchoo-sah, brother of Tazoo; a sister of

poor man down, after he had been nailed up for more than six hours, brought him home, and dressed his wounds; and now he is nearly cured.'

"The crucifixion of this man took place about the 10th of August. He was nailed up about three in the afternoon, and taken down between nine and ten at night. The family knew nothing of the transaction till Felix arrived at home, accompanied with a number of officers and others, with the poor sufferer. I understand he was able to sit up the next day, and expressed a high sense of gratitude. In about a fortnight, he was able to stand. Brother Chater says, he believes Felix was the only person in the place who could have succeeded, and that it gained him much renown among the Burmans.”

In a letter from Mr. Marshman, dated in Nov. 1810, we meet with some observations which deserve to be recorded, not only for the benefit of missionaries and missionary societies, but as an answer to some of the idle clamours which have been raised in this country against them.

say little more than that it is not by begging, nor by stealing, nor by what they receive from us. He who feeds the ravens when they cry, knows how to feed those who turn to him from the service of dumb idols. The visible means seem to be these: some of the baptized have a house, and a furlong or two of garden; this they culti vare, and sell its productions, with the fruit, perhaps, of a few trees, plantains, cocoanuts, &c. This serves to subsist a family; and, if they are able, they employ a native brother too, and feed him. Others take a few furlongs of ground, agreeing to pay a part of the produce for rent; and where a bullock is required to plough the small spot, it is perhaps hired on condition of delivering a certain portion of corn, &c. to the owner of it, when the crop is ripe. Others may find a less bigotted, and more good natured neighbour, who being on their own level, and perhaps a former acquaintance, still engages him to labour in his little field, and thus, as you will find in the sequel, more nearly viewing at leisure his walk and conversation, feels his groundless aversion subside, listens to his artless ac count of the gospel of Christ, and feels, before he is aware, that he himself has also a soul to be saved!-Thus does the wisdom of God turn the curse into a blessing, bring good out of evil, fill the mouths of his children with food, and their hearts with joy and gladness.

Some, at first sight, might be ready to ask, Why do you at Serampore leave these poor brethren to struggle with their difficulties? Why not send them fifty or sixty rupees monthly to supply their present neces sities, after the example of the churches to the poor saints at Jerusalem in time of distress? or why not employ them as servants at Serampore; or at least furnish them with a little money to set up a plough, and enable them to rent a piece of land? Such may be assured, that it was neither through want of affection, nor of duly weighing their ci cumstances. The first we felt so that we could have imparted our very souls to them. But, after the most mature conşideration, our knowledge of the Hindoo character, and of the circumstances of the country, convinced us that we could do nothing more than pray for, and encourage them, without doing far more harm to them than good. Had we sent each of them only a rupee per month, such is the indolence of the Hindoo character, that it would have effectually prevented their exerting them selves; their expectations would have re

ceived a wrong direction, and must finally have been disappointed. It is possible, that within a few years, a thousand may embrace the Gospel there; but where could we find a thousand rupees monthly to assist them? To have encouraged them to come to Serampore for work, could have been done only to a certain extent, which must finally have sowed discontent among those who could not be employed. But besides this, it would have taken them out of their own connexions and place of abode, where it was highly desirable they should remain in the hope of their proving a leaven hid in a portion of meal; and to have set up two or three of them in farming, would have been likely not only to fill the rest with dissatisfaction, but to prove a temptation to them. To three or four, therefore, of these brethren who came over to visit us, we explained our motives, laid before them their line of duty, and giving them a rupee each to bear their expenses home, sent them back to Jessore.

"You will perceive with pleasure, in reading the accounts from Jessore, in what manner the leaven, small as it was, which found its way thither three or four years ago, has operated. Punchanun and Fakeerchund, who were then baptized, have been useful to others. Nor will you remark with less pleasure the recovery of Sadutsah. This poor man, after being baptized at Serampore in 1803, went and resided in the Sunderbunds, where, renouncing Christ, he set up for one who could charm wild beasts, and got his living by this means! Coming, however, to see his brother Boodheesah, (who was baptized before him, and who, though he also had long since forsaken Christ, yet seems still to hover round the church at Jessore) he felt his heart fail, wept abundantly, and entreated Carapeit to let him come and live with him, though hơ could merely sustain life. Carapeit consented, received him and his wife, employed them to cook, &c. for him. After this he was received into the church, and Carapeit, writing to us, says concerning it, I dare say you will rejoice with me, for I have found the sheep that was lost!" Worthy young man, we do rejoice indeed with thee, and shall rejoice we trust, to all eternity! Sadutsal's wife is now baptized, and also his mother. His wife seems an excellent woman. Twice has she, within this year, pledged a silver ornament, which most women in the country wear, for five rupees, to provide food for native brethren and inquirers who came accidentally many miles to visit Carapeit, when he was too

short of money to feed them for the day. We highly approve of the plan suggested by Carapeit of administering the Lord's sup per at four different places, on the four Lord's days in the month. It will probably prove the foundation of four churches instead of one, though it will subject him to a journey on foot of near 200 miles in the month; but it will give him the opportunity of making known the Gospel on the road. We have baptized more than seventy this year, of various nations; above 30 in Calcutta."

The following anecdote cannot fail to interest our readers.

Sitting at my studies, one Saturday afternoon, in a small room adjoining the school-rooms, which are by the road on the banks of the river, I heard a plaintive voice without (it was in June or July, the rainy season) conversing with one or two of our boatmen, who, by their tone of voice, seemed more inclined to deride than to pity distress. Going out, I foun ia poor young woman apparently about 25, who, after going many hundred miles on a pilgrimage to Jaggernauth in Orissa, was returning to her own country, but exhausted with fatigue and want, and an incipient fever, had sat down under a small shed (left open for such purposes, in the outside of the premises) to shelter herself from the rain. Moved with her distress, I called one of our servants, (whom she could better understand, and whom she would be more likely to credit than an European stranger) to desire her to remain at the house of one of our native sisters for a few days, at least till she could recover her strength, and to assure her, that not the least violence should be done to her cast: she should eat what she chose.The poor creature accepted the offer with thankfulness; aud I desired our native friend to take the utmost care of her, at our ex pense. In a few days the woman grew qnite well, and ate with her kind hostess, as a matter of choice, listening also with much attention to what she heard about the Saviour! Some time after, she came to Mrs. Marsh. man, requesting employment, saying that she was now healthy and strong, and did not wish to live without working. Not having domestic employment in the house, (which a Hindoo woman could feel happy in doing) we gave her papers to stitch, at our friend's house. Some time after, a friend in Calcutta employed her, as a kind of confidential servant to oversee her small family and purchase things in the market, who gives her the most pleasing character

for diligence, good conduct, and integrity. For these eight or nine months, i. e. from about a month after her coming among us, she has evinced a most earnest concern about the salvation of her soul; and all our Christian friends, among whom she has been conversant, bear testimony to the reality of her faith in Christ and her love to him, his people, and his word. She is found at alf the means of grace in the Bengalee language, and all her deportment bespeaks a serious yet cheerful mind”.”

FRANCE,

The following circular letter was sentby Bonaparte to all the bishops of France on the occasion of convoking a general council for deliberating on the state of religion, as men

We deem it our duty to notice in this place, an article which some misjudging friend of the Baptist Mission has chosen to write, and which the conductors of the Eclectic Review have, unadvisedly, as we think, chosen to insert in their last number, The article to which we refer, is the Review of Dr. Buchanan's Christian Researches. Of this critique we do not hesi tate to say that, with perhaps one exception, we have read no paper in the Eclectic Review, which has the appearance of being more invidiously and unjustly personal, or which indicates more of that sectarian feeling, which the conductors of that work have solemnly abjured, and of which the present reviewer endeavours to avoid the merited imputation by first dexterously crimi nating Dr. Buchanan. With all the zeal which the reviewer expresses in favour of missions, we regard his production as calculated to injure that object. For the sake of that great cause, we sincerely wish that he had taken a lesson of forbearance from the object of his cautionary reproof, and that, instead of exhausting his skill in dią. lectics in order to find some ground of pos sible accusation against Dr. Buchanan, he had magnanimously preferred the interests of their common Christianity to every inferior and merely party consideration. Will it be believed that in the Eclectic Review, it is made a charge against Dr. Buchanan, that bis preference of the Church of England' to any other division of the Christian church should be manifest in his writings? But we must defer to another occasion what we have further to say on this topic, as well as the notice which we designed to take of some unjustifiable personalities which this writer has ventured to introduce.