ciety." May the Lord graut me the grand requisite for so holy and important a work, a tender feeling for the immortal interests of the perishing millions of Ireland, and, whatever else he withholds, that he will enable me to live, to pray, and to preach as for eternity. him, was he permitted to read the Scriptures? He said he would not be hindered by any man. I told him I was very glad to hear that, for they were able to make bim wise unto salvation, but they were too often wrested to men's destruction. I saw that plainly, by the passages he referred to; such as Peter being the rock Christ built his church on; the pope his successor; the oint When I commenced this, I did not think that I should have written more than a few lines. I have had before my eyes the mi-ment, confession. We began to speak serable and perishing millions of Erin's sons and daughters, presenting their prayer to British Christians, to come over and help them; the members of the Baptist Irish Society attentively listening to their prayer, and anxiously inquiring what more can be done for them; the Committee consulting; their plans devised; God approving and blessing them, and saying to all engaged in the heavenly work "Go forward, go forward!' JOHN FRANKS. From Mr. Wm. Moore. REV. SIR, Since my last I have not been out of this parish, and indeed I could get enough to do all the days of my life without leaving it, though I am seldomer in it, than parts that are farther off. However, the reason is, I have been for some time back not in a good state of health, but so that I am not prevented going a mile every day in some direction. But how to write, or what to write, is really a trying exercise. The time was when I could send satisfactory monthly journals, and I am persuaded will shortly be again; but short as it may be, there will be great opposition. There is no description of people, high or low, the peaceable or the wicked, that I am not in conversation with; and whatsoever their character is, I get parted with seemingly without spleen or malice and though I speak sometimes ra. ther harshly against the priests, suppose it cut them to the heart, they shew no bad nature to me. I have a free welcome and liberty to speak my mind, so that there will be people prepared for the reception of the Gospel, when this cloud that hangs over us will burst, for it cannot stand long; the signs are evident. But the thing I most dread is the priests. Many of the poor papists secretly keep the Testament, and read it. An instance of this I had last night, when I was at Mr. C.'s. There came a man from Castlebar, in the county of Mayo, a very rational man. After dinner, Mrs. C., who had been often in conversation with him, was very uneasy until she introduced religious conversation. So he, in the discourse, mentioned many passages of Scripture. I asked about the rock; to the whole explanation he paid the greatest attention: next the article of confession to the apostles, and on confession to them, their power to remit sins. On this point, I defied any man to prove from the Scriptures that any sinner went privately to an apostle, and whispered sins into his ear, or that an apostle asked any man or woman what sort of a sinner they were. Then as to the ointment; I shewed him the priesteraft in wresting these passages to make merchandize of the souls of men. He paid the greatest attention, and promised, every time he should come to the country he would send for me. MISSIONARY HERALD; CONTAINING INTELLIGENCE AT LARGE OF THE Proceedings and Operations OF THE BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY, AND RECORDING THE PRINCIPAL TRANSACTIONS OF OTHER SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS. Subscriptions and Donations in aid of this Society will be thankfully received at the Baptist Missionary House, No. 6, Fen Court, Fenchurch Street, London: or by any of the Ministers and Friends whose names are inserted in the Cover of the Annual Report. BAPTIST MISSION. FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. CALCUTTA. a supply of fancy articles for sale. It will afford them pleasure to learn that they realized upwards of 1600 rupees (£160) for the benefit of poor Indian females." Extract of a letter from Mr. Thomas to the Secretary, dated The Editor has much satisfaction in copying the following senCalcutta, March 12. tence, for the information of the female friends of Education in In-Circular Road have devolved upon myself, The whole of the English services in the dia, from a letter addressed to him with the exception of the little assistance I by Mrs. Jonathan Carey of Cal- have received from brother Leslie, who cutta, dated May 8, last. He has spent about a fortnight or a little more with us in October last, and from Mr. Cropper, since understood from another quar- who arrived in the close of the year; and ter, that his respected correspond-after spending a few weeks proceeded to his ent is shortly expected in England for the benefit of her health. "Our best thanks are due to those good ladies who forwarded so elegant and liberal scene of labour in Orissa. I have sometimes felt the services rather heavy, but have endeavoured to discharge the duties of my station to the best of my ability. The congregation keeps up, and we have had several additions during the year, and I ex-meeting of our Tract Society to be held in pect the pleasure of baptizing two or three the Circular Road Chapel. more in a short time. We lately dismissed five soldiers, four of whom I baptized with a view to their forming a church in the regiment, which step was rendered necessary by their removal from Fort William to Berhampore. I have not heard from them since their departure, though in daily expectation of a letter from them. While in the Fort, I often went and preached among them, and was not without hopes of one or two more in the regiment. The 59th regiment has arrived from Berhampore, and owing to the greater liberty possessed by the pious men in it, we have permission to go into the Fort, in order to preach to them whenever convenient to ourselves. I go on most Thursday evenings. I have occasionally preached at a friend's house in the Conductor's Barracks, which are not far from the Fort, but the congregation is quite distinct from the other. My being so constantly engaged in English has kept me back in the Native work. I sometimes endeavour to talk a little to the natives, but have not the language sufficiently at command to begin to preach; yet feeling the importance of the work, and wishing to render what encouragement and assistance I can, I often attend worship in Hindoostanee. We have lately employed Saagitallee, a Mussulman convert, a very excellent man; one who ever since his conversion has given uniform satisfaction, and who has never been implicated, one way or another, in the little but teasing disputes among the native Christians. Every morning he reads and converses with me in Hindoostanee. He preaches to the Mussulmans with considerable feeling, and for a beginner, with considerable propriety. I have often admired his mild manner of replying to cavillers, and have been ready to think I could not have done it. I think, and indeed feel confident, that our reading, &c. is an advantage to both, and trust it will be a growing one. It gives one many opportunities of enlarging his views of divine truth, and the attempt to do this increases my own acquaintance with the language. He attends family worship with us in the morning, which is therefore carried on in Hindoostanee. As to conversions among the natives, I cannot report well. We hope, but fear to speak, lest we should raise expectations to be blasted. You will feel pleased to learn that we all continue to live and act with the greatest unanimity. We love each other, and verily believe would be willing to do and suffer much for each other. I have not seen Dr. Carey very lately, but believe he is well; hope to see him next week at the public MONGHYR. Extract of a letter from Mr. Leslie to the Secretary, dated Monghyr, March 24, 1828. I am sorry that I have been so remiss in writing you during the last year; but having nothing of any importance to communicate, I felt reluctant to sit down to attempt to write about nothing. My heart has often been greatly distressed, and my faith has well nigh many times failed in my missionary labours. We have not had one addition for more than a year past, and at present but little prospect of having any; yet still I have felt for the last few weeks more encouraged than I have for months past. My encouragement has not arisen from witnessing what appears to be conversion, but from things which I would venture to hope may ultimately lead to it. For the last two years I have been, at different times, seeking for a house in the centre of the population, which I might fit up for preaching, our place of worship being at a distance from the town, and where comparatively few natives, but those immediately connected, were accustomed to attend. But such was the perversity of the people, that, though they would sometimes promise to let me have a house, yet they never failed to disappoint me; and when I would offer to purchase from them, they were sure to ask a sum three or four times the real value. Sometimes I tried to procure ground on which to build but the ground which I wished was not to be given, or the owner of it was not to be found. Almost despairing of obtaining either a house or ground, application was made to the authorities of the station for a small piece of ground, suitable for my purpose, which was immediately and cheerfully granted. I have therefore erected a neat and strong-built place of worship, which was opened yesterday, and was numerously attended. It is situated in the most eligible place of the whole town. When I began to build, the people seemed somewhat afraid, but they appear now quite reconciled, and numbers have expressed a willingness to attend: indeed, there is every prospect of our having at all times a good congregation. I was greatly afraid lest there should be some confusion at the opening; but all was conducted with the greatest order. I have so constructed the meeting-house, that should there be any persons ashamed to enter, or any who, from prejudice, will not enter, they Another of my teachers has lately been very ill, and during his illness he has been crying continually on Christ, and expressing his belief that there is no other Saviour. The people around him have been dreading his becoming a Christian; so much so, that when I sent the native Christians to see him, all the neighbours gathered around in great fear. The poor man, however, called the Christians to him, told them his belief, and entreated them to read the Scriptures and to pray with him, which they did. He came to the opening of the new meeting yesterday. Time will show what is the result of his affliction; I talked with him on the kindness of Christ in sparing him, and he seemed very tender. may still be able to hear distinctly, though of them to go at that time, he went away I standing without. The roof is very strong himself, but before going he shed many tears, and covered with tiles, and the floor is brick- confessing to them his belief on Christ and work, but as smooth as polished stone. It his sorrow at parting from them. is comfortably seated with benches, and has an excellent pulpit in it. Many persons come daily to see it, with whom the native preachers are always ready to talk; I have placed one of them to live there, that he may be always present to talk with those who come. The schools are doing well, and afford very cheering hopes. The children appear much pleased when I talk to them of Christ; many of them can read the Scriptures fluently, and all evince great desire to be possessed of a gospel of their own. They sometimes are so importunate for books, that they really plague me, coming to my house at all hours, crying to me when I come to the school, and running after me on the roads. To a great number I have given gospels and other books, but I make it a rule to give to none until they can read well; there is consequently, therefore, sometimes a little difference between the children and myself as to their abilities in reading, the end of which is, that I have to tell them they must learn a little more before they can have a gospel. These, my dear sir, are some of the things which are happening with us, and they are such as to keep us from fainting. I trust God will ere long grant us his Spirit to perfect what appears to be begun. Were it not for the chain of caste, I believe that very many would profess Christianity; but God can break the chain asunder. My hope is, therefore, in him. As to myself, I have, with the exception of a rather severe fever which I had in the beginning of December, been tolerably well all the cold season; the fever I got by imprudently exposing myself in the forepart of the day to the sun. The cold season in December being severe, I thought I might venture out one day to visit the native mem round one half of my diocese, the fever came on, and I had to return home, where I had 22 or 30 hours of severe fever. Some things of a little interest have occurred lately in some of the grown-up people. An old man, who has been long in the babit of hearing the gospel, and who has also been a great opposer of it, has a few weeks ago evinced a remarkable change. Having, in former days, been a kind of spiritual teacher and having many disciples, he has lately been going about amongst them and others of the people, telling them to for-bers at their houses; but before I had got sake their idols and follow Christ. He has evinced great earnestness; indeed, I have never seen such earnestness in any of the natives who have arrived at his age. But the poor man has had to sustain persecution; his life has been threatened, and he has consequently been under great fear, and is still apparently under it. He, however, continues to attend worship, and declares unhesitatingly bis belief on the Lord Jesus Christ. I have gone once or twice to his house-once for the express purpose of endeavouring to prevent the people from doing him injury. Another man (a Brahmin) whom I have for the last two years employed as a teacher in one of the schools, left me, on a month's leave, about a fortnight ago, to visit his relations and his native village, about six or eight days' journey from this. Previous to his going, he came to me and asked for the four gospels, that he might carry them home to his friends. Having received them, and bidden me farewell, he went to the native Christians, and urged them to come to his village to speak the word of eternal life to his people. It not being convenient for any The hot season is now commenced, and with it somewhat of my debility. I feel grateful to the Committee in inviting me home, if my health require it; but I shall try another season before I take any steps in the way of a removal. Both Mrs. C. and Mr. Moore, as well as others, have advised me to go home for some time; but I do not feel willing to put the Society to the expense, neither do I think it desirable to leave the station in its present appearanee. DIGAH. From Mr. Burton to Mr. Dyer, dated Digah, March, 19, 1828. I think my last letter gave you information up to the 7th of November, when we returned from the Hajipore Mèlah. Brother Smith remained with me labouring amongst the natives at Digah, Dinapore, instructed in Oordoo, Persian and English, and receive an education decidedly religious, admitting without hesitation, in each of these languages, the Bible as a class book. The first class would answer any question respecting sacred history with more readi and Patna till the 27th of that month, when we started on our march westward. We took with us a good supply of tracts and gospels, and were accompanied by one native Christian. Our plan was to make short stages of twelve or eighteen miles a day, and stay at every village to address the peo-ness than most lads of their age in England. ple and distribute tracts as opportunity might offer. In this way we have spent nearly three months, but to mention all the places where the gospel was made known, or to keep a journal of such conversations and addresses, occupying often several hours of the day, was, you may easily suppose, quite out of the question. Of course brother Smith was always the principal spokesman, and I shall ever consider it a most valuable privilege to have spent so much time with him, observing his method of dealing with the different descriptions of the natives, and trying to imitate it. The first place of note on our way was Buxar, where we were most kindly entertained three days by our brother Edwards and family. At this place no Missionary or chaplain resides, but a small chapel has been built by subscription, in which the chaplain from Gazeepore preaches once a month, and in which all missionaries may officiate when visiting the place. Here we preach both in Hindoostanee and English. It is (like Monghyr,) a station for European invalids, and the Church Missionary Society support a native Catechist for the purpose of reading prayers to their wives who are chiefly country-born women and natives professing Christianity. There are here five European members of Baptist churches, to whom we administered the Lord's Supper, and who seemed much refreshed by the opportunity afforded them of participating in this solemn rite. At Gazeepore, a considerable European station twenty-four miles from Buxar, we found amongst 1200 troops one religious man, a member of a Baptist church, who was quite rejoiced to see us. Though only a private soldier he gave us 20 rupees as a donation to our native schools. In Benares and Chunar, we remained altogether about three weeks, and were most kindly received by the different Missionaries, and not a little refreshed by their Society; but it was disheartening to observe how little has yet been effected in the way of converisons from amongst the heathen, where so many devoted men have long resided. Much, however, is doing in a preparatory way; the prejudices of the people too are evidently giving way, and Dagon will, I trust, soon fall before the ark of the Lord, the superstitions of India before God's Holy Word. Benares is perhaps the most superstitious city in India, and has the most learned Pundits; yet here, in one school 150 of the most respectable boys, or rather young men, are I visited here with brother Smith, many of the Hindu Temples, and in two that are more splendid, more frequented, and considered more sacred than the others, we discoursed to the priests and worshippers respecting the blessed Gospel at considerable length; which is the more remarkable, as before that day brother Smith had often been refused an entrance into one of them. At Allahabad we received a cordial welcome from our excellent and truly humble brother Mackintosh, and remained with him sixteen days. The concourse at this Mèlah is not so great as at Hajipore, but they remain together a much longer time. Perhaps there were not more than 200,000 persons present, but the ceremonies they have to perform oblige them to remain five or six weeks. The object for which they assemble is to bathe in the conflux of the Jumna and Ganges, at appointed seasons, and to have their heads shaved at a particular spot. To be permitted to bathe they have to pay a tax of one rupee to the Company; and oh! it was distressing to receive from a man, of whom I asked how he hoped to be saved, this shocking reply-"I have paid to the Company this morning a rupee for my salvation; and can there be a doubt of my safely?" We pitched our tent in the midst of the the Mèlah, and were in constant converse with the multitudes around us. Great numbers of tracts and gospels were distributed here too, though the place is not favourable for distribution: since these deluded people imagine that it is very unlucky to accept of a present of any kind at Allahabad. The spot of ground on which the Mèlah is held, particularly the inclosure for bathing, is supposed to be so holy on these occasions, that to tread upon it purifies from all sin. Within the inclosure several Pundits take their seats every morning, and read and explain the shasters to groups of the worshippers for several successive hours. years ago, a native Christian entering this place with some tracts, was quickly ordered out again, and severely beaten by order of these Bramins. This year we entered it several times, attended by native Christians laden with tracts, without even one word of remonstrance, and both addressed the people and distributed amongst them, on this very throne of Satan, the word of Life. Two On the 21st of January we left Allababad, and returned via Mirzapore, a large city on the banks of the Ganges, where we were busily engaged for two days. and met |