of exhibiting this statement; and we therefore earnestly hope they will be formed wherever it is practicable. MISSIONARY COLLEGE, SERAMPORE. THE subjoined letter, from the pen of our esteemed brother Mr. Ward, though somewhat abridged through want of room, comprises the whole that immediately relates to the interesting Institution referred to. The Missionaries at Serampore wish to bring before the Christian public, their plan for establishing a COLLEGE, for the purpose of imparting scriptural improvement to the minds of native Pastors and Missionaries. The object of this address is to draw the attention of the Friends of India to this, as they conceive, immensely important object-that of duly preparing as large a body as possible of natives of India, for the work of Chrisfian Pastors, and Christian Itinerants, or Missionaries. It is fully admitted, and the importance of keeping this in constant remembrance is also duly felt, that no person ought to be put in preparation for the Christian Ministry who is not already taught of God, and whose mind is not the seat of gracious influences. The prayer of the Missionaries to "the Lord of the Harvest" is, that HE would send forth labourers into the harvest. Their desire, on finding such in the Christian Church, is, to take them as Aquila and Priscilla did Barnabas, and teach them "the way of the Lord more perfectly," and thus assist them to go forth, "mighty in the Scriptures." The persons at present employed as Christian teachers in India, would be considered in this country as but poorly qualified for so important a charge; but what could be done in so great a necessity, when so many souls were daily passing out of time, and beyond recovery, without Christ, and without God in the world?" The Missionaries could not shut their ears against the cries of the perishing, and they could find no better helpers to go with them to the wreck, to endeavour "to save some." They have herein attempted what they could; and they hope that this part of their plan has been attended with some degree of success: they are sorry that every one of these native assistants is not a Brainerd. It may be observed, however, that the work of teaching in India, is more like "crying in the wilderness," and "disputing in the school of Tyrannus," than the method used in England, of instructing men by prepared discourses. Indeed the state of society, and of Christian knowledge in India, would, at present, hardly allow of the more refined method pursued in the pulpit exercises of this country. For this more popular method of instruction, some of the native teachers are tolerably well qualified; but for want of a more enlarged view of the Christian system, they cannot answer the many inquiries made by their hearers, nor are they capable of opening the mysteries of Redemption in the manner they ought. The lowest order of these native teachers, when converted, have hardly been capable of reading, and are still in a state of deficiency very painful to the Missionaries. In these circumstances, Dr. Carey and his brethren have for some time back been very anxious to establish a Seminary, wherein the case of native Pastors and Missionaries should be met; and, trusting in God that they should not be disappointed in these desires for completing the plan into which they have been gradually led, they have bought a piece of ground adjoining to the Mission premises, on which there is an old house, and which, for the present, may be sufficient for the instruction of those whom God may give unto them; but they should be glad to see, before their removal by death, a better house erected. A row of small rooms for the students is immediately wanted. The brevity of a letter hardly admits of enlargement on the importance and necessity of a Seminary to meet these purposes. The Catholic Institution at Penang, for training up Chinese converts; a similar one at Malacca, established through the liberality and efforts of Dr. Morrison, in conjunction with the Rev. Mr. Milne; and that which has been pro posed by the Lord Bishop of Calcutta since the formation of this at Serampore, might be mentioned as offering arguments to support the necessity of the object: but the melancholy necessity is too glaring not to be seen by the most superficial observer. When would English Mission. aries be able to instruct the whole of India? At present there is not one minister for each million of British subjects, even if we include every Clergyman and every Missionary now to be found in that country; and nearly half of these are confined to districts, which do not comprise more than twenty square miles, and the other half do little or nothing for, the heathen: yet our native subjects in India do not amount to one-half the population of Hindoost'han, which cannot be less than one hundred and fifty millions. The pecuniary resources, and the number of Missionaries required for the instruction of all these millions, can never, therefore, be supplied from England; and India will never be turned from gross idolatry to serve the living and true God, unless the grace of God rest on converted natives, to qualify them for the work, and unless, by the instrumentality of those who care for India, they be sent forth into the field. It is on native Preachers, therefore, that the weight of this work must ultimately rest, though the presence of European Missionaries will also be indispensably necessary for many years to come; and to enable the Serampore Missionaries to commence, as soon as practicable, the work of sending them into this immense field, in the best possible state of preparation, is the purport of this appeal to British Christians. ing travelling charges, will find that amply sufficient to carry him all over the country. Nor ought the expenses of giving to the English Missionary an edu cation, his outfit, his passage money, and the large salary he requires there to maintain him, be forgotten in the compa rison between a native and a European Missionary. Besides the improvement of converted natives, who may be selected for the work of the Ministry, or for Missionary em ployment, Dr. Carey and his brethren hope that some of these pious Hindoos may be capable of acquiring a higher edu cation; and that, after becoming good Sungskrit, as well as Hebrew and Greek scholars, they may be successfully_employed as translators of the Divine Word into languages, with the structure of which they will be perfectly familiar. 1 he dialects of India are so numerous, that it can hardly be expected that the Holy Scriptures will be very soon rendered into all of them; and when that shall have been accomplished, their improve. ment and perfection can only be hoped for through the revision of learned Christian natives. The children of English Missionaries, who may be the subject of saving influences, and may be called to the work of the Mission, will find in this College that education which may pre. pare them to become the most efficient agents in the gathering in of the hea then. It is further intended, that a respectable but inferior education should be given at this College, to a number of the children of converted Hindoos and Musulinans, so as to qualify them for situations in life, by which they may procure a decent livelihood, and rear and educate their families. Hereby some amends may be made to their parents and themselves, for the deprivations to which they have been subjected by the loss of cast; and thus will be wiped away the dreadful reproach common throughout every part of India, that the Feringees (the Christians) are sunk the lowest of all casts in vice and ignorance. The fitness of native Preachers for the work can hardly be appreciated without considering the difficulty of acquiring a foreign language, so as to be able to become a persuasive preacher in it—an attainment which but few, even of those called Missionaries, acquire; without referring to the heat of the climate, which in a great measure incapacitates an European for very active services in the open air, and without considering that the only way, for many years to come, in which the spiritual wants of this vast population can be met, must be by numerous and constant journies among them. From what treasury could places of worship be built all over India?-and if they existed, who should, who could persuade the heathen to enter them? But the native Preacher, under a tree, or even in the open air, can address his countrymen for hours together, without feeling more fatigue than what attends similar labours in England; he also can find access to his own countrymen, and, which Europeans cannot have, to the lower orders of his qwn countrywomen, in every place; he can subsist on the simple produce of the country, can find a lodging in almost any village he may visit, and he knows the way to the hearts, as well as to the heads of his countrymen, without difficulty. The European cannot travel without carrying along with him his food, and that wherein he may sleep, as there are no public inns; and hence a boat or a palanqueen are quite necessary. Thus the expense of travelling to an European is very consi- The ground for the erection of the derable: while the Hindoo Preacher, buildings necessary for this Seminary, was subsisting on ten shillings a week, includ-purchased during the past year, after the And, lastly, this College is proposed to be open and gratuitous to all denominations of Christians, and to as many hea then scholars as choose to avail themselves of its exercises and lectures, provided they maintain themselves. In the illumination of turge and successive bodies of the heathen, it is contemplated that the effects of this College on India may bẻ most important. Plan, published all over India, had received the sanction and patronage of the Most Noble the Marquis of Hastings, his Excellency Jacob Krefting, Esq. the Governor of Serampore, and other distinguished personages. This Plan is now printed in England, and copies may be had by applying to Messrs. Black, Kings- | bury, Parbury, and Allen, Leadenhallstreet, or to the Rev. W. Ward, No. 60, Paternoster-row, London. Before Mr. Ward left Serampore to visit England for the recovery of his health, he had begun to give practical effect to this Plan, by superintending the instruction of a number of youth, who might be considered as the first pupils of this Seminary. A letter from Serampore, dated in February last, says, "the number of youth in the College is thirty-one, of whom twenty-three are Christians; they are going on well." By another letter, dated 25th of March, we learn that two native Professors had been appointed, the one for Astronomy, and the other for the Hindoo Law. The scholars had then been removed into the house already purchased; but the rooms for the accommodation of the students had not been erected, for want of funds. As soon as pious teachers shall have gone from England, and shall have entered on their work, the number of pupils will present a large field for labour-labours which will, in their eternal results, amply repay the cultivator, as well as all those who shall have contributed to the gathering in of so rich a harvest; for, if they "that turn many to righteousness, shall shine as the stars for ever and ever," surely they who have been co-workers with them, shall share in their glory. The funds which had been collected in India afforded much encouragement, though far from adequate to meet the first expenses. A considerable sum is therefore wanted from England to realize this, as it is humbly conceived, most important design. On mentioning this object at a meeting of the Committee of the Society in June last, they recommended it by passing the following resolution: "The Committee of the Baptist Missionary Society rejoice to witness the progress of religion and learning in, the Eastern World; and as they conceive that the College recently founded by their brethren at Seram. pore may materially promote this most desirable object, they beg leave to recommend it to the liberal attention of the British public. "JOHN RYLAND, 60 JOHN DYER." "London, June 26, 1819." Donations and Subscriptions to this Institution will be received by Messrs. Praeds, Mackworth, and Newcome, 189, Fleet-street; Messrs. Ladbrokes, Watson, and Gillman, Bank Buildings, Cornhill; Sir John Perring, Messrs. Shaw and Co. 72, Cornhill; Sir John Pinhorn, Messrs. Weston and Sons, Borough; Joseph Butterworth, Esq. Fleet-street; William Burls, Esq. 56, Lothbury; the Rev. Joseph Ivimey, No. 20, Harpur-street, Redlion-square; Messrs. Black, Kingsbury, Parbury, and Allen, No. 7, Leadenhallstreet; and the Rev. W. Ward, No. 60, Paternoster-row; by the Rev. J. Ryland, D.D. Bristol; Rev. J. Dyer, Reading; and by the Particular Baptist Ministers in every part of the Kingdom. And Mr. Ward hopes, that on his taking leave the second time of his beloved country, to return to his colleagues at Serampore in May next, he shall be able to carry with him that help which may rear this house for the name of our God, and from whence many heralds of salvation may go forth to preach among the heathen "the glorious Gospel of the blessed God." Dr. Carey and his brethren have devoted 20,000 rupees, or £2,500, from the proceeds of their own labour to this work; and Mr. Ward would have gone through the kingdom, and by personal solicitation have endeavoured to collect the sum further wanted, about four thousand pounds; but the general funds of the Society were so low, that he could not help devoting some time to efforts for recruiting them, and has for this purpose visited various parts of the kingdom. He still hopes, however, that the absolute necessity of providing native Missionaries to instruct the vast population of Asia, will induce persons of distinction and affluence, as well as collective bodies, to come forward with large donations, and individuals with their smaller offerings, that thus the ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILLIONS of India, a great part of them our fellowsubjects, may not be left to perish for lack of knowledge; but that Britain may at length present to India, in return for the immense national advantages she has been long drawing from thence, the blessings of salvation-"the unsearchable riches of Christ." W. WARD. London, October 20, 1819. We are requested to add, that, at the suggestion of some respectable friends, Mr. Ward proposes that the sums raised for the College shall be invested in the funds in this country, in the name of Trustees, and the interest annually transmitted to Serampore, together with any other money contributed for the same purpose, and that it shall be applied to the distinct purpose of training native Missionaries for the service of the Gospel. DESIGNATION ΘΡ Messrs. EVANS and BURTON. A PASSAGE to Bencoolen having been secured on board the Company's ship London, Captain Cameron, for our brethren, Messrs. Evans and Burton, they have been solemnly designated to their important work: the former at Kingstreet meeting-house, Bristol, on Wednesday evening, December 8; and the lat. ter at Reading on the following evening. At Bristol, after prayer and reading the scriptures by Rev.T. S.Crisp, the Rev. W. Ward delivered an introductory address, and received Mr. Evans's confession of faith, &c. The ordination prayer was offered by Dr. Ryland; and the Rev. Thomas Roberts, Mr. Evans's pastor, addressed him in a suitable charge, from Ephesians iii. 8. The service was closed in prayer by Rev. Jenkin Thomas. At Bristol, the Rev. Thomas Welsh, of Newbury, commenced the service by reading and prayer; Rev. Thomas Ro. berts delivered the address, and concluded by asking the usual questions, to which Mr. Burton replied in a very satisfactory manner; the Rev. W. Gray, of Chipping Norton, offered the ordination prayer; and the Rev. W. Ward delivered the charge from 1 Tim. iv. 16; the Rev. A. Douglas, the Independent minister of Reading, concluded the service in prayer. The congregations on each occasion were numerous, and highly interested by the transactions which they witnessed. After the Missionaries and their wives had arrived in London, a public prayermeeting was held on their account at Eagle-street Meeting, where Mr. Burton has been for several years a member; and on Thursday the 17th inst. they attended a special meeting of the Central Committee, at the Society's Rooms, 15, Wood-street, when their instructions were delivered to them by the Junior Secretary, and, after an appropriate address by the Chairman, Joseph Gutteridge, Esq. they were once more af fectionately commended to God in prayer, by the Rev. Joseph Ivimey. Our friends are expected to leave England before the close of this month, (December.) Foreign Intelligence. SERAMPORE. Extract of a Letter from Dr. Carey to Dr. Ryland, dated March 30, 1819. FOR the last two or three months, I have almost ceased to write letters; this no doubt arises chiefly from that na tural dislike to it, which has attended me through life, and which is always ready to catch at any excuse for the neglect. At the same time I think want of leisure is seldom pleaded with more truth than in my case. I might sometimes take a little of that time for this purpose, which I have considered it a duty to appropriate to relaxation from my daily labours; but the truth is, that I generally feel myself so worn down by work, that I have no inclination to sacrifice that time to writing letters. I am now nearly fifty-eight years of age, and though I enjoy a tolerably good state of health, yet feel fatigue sooner than I formerly did. Long before this reaches you, I hope brother Ward will have sately arrived in England; from him you will learn every thing respecting the state of the Mission, which had transpired at that time. Since his departure, nothing of moment has occurred: we are all in nearly the same state of health as we were then, and all our undertakings proceed in nearly the same manner. The translations, and works connected with them, regularly occupy my time, and probably will continue to do so till I am unable to engage in them. I have lived to see versions of the Bengalee, Sungskrit, Ootkul, (Orissa,) and Hindee, begun and completed. This year will, I hope, add the Mahratta to them. The Punjabee, or language of the Shikhs, is the next in point of forwardness; the Pentateuch in which is printed, and I hope the Historical Books will be finished by the end of the year. We are now considerably advanced in the 1st Chronicles; so that I hope in two years more, should I live, to see the whole Bible printed in six of the languages of India. The New Testament is also finished in Pushtoo, Kunkuna, felinga, and Mooltanee, or Wuch. (The first, viz. Mooltanee, is the proper name of this language, being that of the province, while Wuch is only the name of the chief city in it.) The Assamese is nearly printed off also, so that by the dear I am, through mercy, well; my wife is extremely weak, but she has that enjoyment of nearness to God, which enables her to bear the weakness with the spirit of a Christian. My family is about me. Felix is at Serampore, assisting in the printing-office, on a monthly saJary; William at Cutwa, where he has baptized thirteen natives already this year. Jabez is gone to Agimere, to try to set up schools in Rajpoothana; and Jonathan has a good situation in Calcutta, in the law, and is in expectation of being soon appointed an attorney in the Supreme Court. Brother Sutton is gone to Moorshedabad, where I trust he will be useful: he writes in a good spirit. Brother Chamberlam was lately here, I feared in the last stage of a consumption; but since his return he has been much better, and there are considerable hopes of his recovery. He was evidently under the influence of the genuine sentiments of the gospel. Brother Moore has lately married a third wife, an élève of our friend, Mrs. G. of Agra. CALCUTTA. Extract of a Letter from Mr. Yates to Dr. Ryland, dated Calcutta, March 10, 1819. I AM just now recovering from a severe attack of the bilious fever, by which I have been confined to my room for a week. It was brought on, I believe, by my being too much exposed to the sun; and has been removed by my taking ca lomel till I became a little salivated. I am now recovering, but still very weak. During this affliction, I have felt my mind very much resigned to the divine will, and have had one prevailing desire, that whether I lived, I might live unto the Lord; or whether I died, I might die unto the Lord; so that whether living or dying I might be entirely his. It has furnished me with another proof of the vanity of all things here below; and, what is better, with a fresh resolution more than ever to set my affections on things above. How precious is the doctrine of the atonement in the prospect of death and eternity! CEYLON. IT is with much regret we have to announce, that another of our Missionaries has been compelled to quit his station through ill health-Mr. Griffiths, lately fixed at Point de Galle in the island of Ceylon. Mr. and Mrs. Griffiths, and their infant child, have just arrived, by the way of Madras, in the Richmond, which also conveyed to his native shores Mr. Richard Knill, a Missionary belonging to the London Society, who has been constrained to return on the same account. CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. WEST AFRICA. |