learned to make their own clothing-mittee are gradually increasing. They about 400 couple, are married-they may at present be considered "as were accustomed to spend their nights twelve in number-Calcutta, Kidin dancing and drumming, after the derpore, Burdwan, Buxar, Benares, heathenish fashion of their countries: Chunar, Lucknow, Bareilly, Meerut, not a drum is now left in town-in six Delhi, Agra, and Titalya. In these months, only six deaths occurred; several stations, there were, at the while, in three months, forty-two date of the last dispatches, twentychildren were born-not an oath had nine Christian teachers, European been heard in the town, to Mr. John- and Native; and there are now on son's knowledge, for the last twelve their passage, for their further supmonths; nor had any drunkenness ply, six others." been witnessed-the attendance on public worship is regular and large, three times on the Sunday; on an average, not less than 1200 or 1300 Negroes, while Mr. Johnson's first congregation amounted but to nine: at morning and evening daily prayers, not less than 500 are present-the Schools, which opened with ninety boys and fifty girls with thirty-six adults, now contain upward of 500 scholars. "These were great encouragements to Mr. Johnson in his labours: but he was not satisfied with the reformation of the manners of the people: he prayed for indications of a change of heart, and the influence of a living principle. Nor did he wait long. One and another began to visit him, burdened by a sense of their sins, to ask what they were to do to be saved -disclosing to him the gracious influences of the Holy Spirit on their hearts, in the most simple and touching manner. He saw persons, in every direction, before they came to attend morning and evening daily worship, kneeling in private prayer behind bushes and houses. All, without exception, wish for baptism; but Mr. Johnson admits none to that ordinance till he is satisfied of their intelligence and integrity. All have abandoned polygamy, greegrees, and Devil-worship. The baptized are in the habit of regularly partaking of the Lord's Supper, unless prevented by illness; and when Mr. Johnson left, in April of last year, the number of Communicants amounted to 263," The North India Mission.-The stations under the superintendance of the Calcutta Corresponding Com The Mission in the South of India. -Besides Madras and its mere immediately dependent stations, Tranquebar is the centre of various School-establishments; and at Cotym and Allepie, in Travancore, with several stations of the Company's Chaplains in the Presidency, the labours of the Society are carried on. In these different places, Nine English or Lutheran Clergymen, eight of whom are married, are appointed to labour; about fifty Natives are employed under their direction; upward of 2500 children are under instruction; and, both in stated congregations and by excursions and Journeys, the truths of the Gospel are declared to numbers of Natives, and are made known by the distribution of tracts and of the scriptures. The Missionaries in Travancore write "The moral state of the Heathen around us is awful beyond description. Adultery is no crime—it is the practice of their gods! A woman is kept a short time, and then her place filled by another; and other practices too offensive to mention. From these vices the Namboury Brahmins are tolerably free. But it is literally verified in all these Heathen, that there is no truth in their inward part. If it were decorous for persons residing with comfort in the country, we could mention instances of bribery and corruption, and a total disregard of all truth and justice, in almost every office of trust held by a Native. Nothing in our own land at all approximates to it. There is no security." On the State of the Syrian Church, the Missionaries write "We think we can safely assert, that there is a gradual, though slow improvement. The mind of the Metropolitan evidently opens to a view of the real state of the Church over which he presides. Many hints of improvement are suggested by him, and he follows up warmly the plans proposed by us. We all meet twice The Mediterranean Mission.-The great interest : "Among the Eastern churches within the sphere of this Mission, the revival of pure religion is unquestionably begun and, as these churches shall reflect the clear light of the Gospel on the Mahomedans and Heathens around, they will doubtless become efficient instruments of rescuing them from delusion and death. But it is by the bringing back these churches to the knowledge and love of the sacred Scriptures, that the blessing from on high may be expected to descend on them: and there are many and encouraging indications that the churches of Greece, and Syria, and Armenia, and Egypt, and Abyssinia, will gladly receive the boon at our bands. a week, to regulate the affairs of the Church and Mission; and it is quite a pleasure to see the method and propriety with which the Metropolitan attends to business. The principal Malpan is an increasingly valuable man: his anxiety for the improvement of the Church, and the diffusion of knowledge, is great." following Extract will be read with Corfu, and Vienna, this renovated attention to the Scriptures promises well for that interesting people; who will stand foremost, when once brought themselves into the full influence of Christian truth, among its most active and efficient friends. "The Society's Missionaries, therefore, rejoice to labour in this holy cause. Their voyages and their journeys, their plans and their toils, characterize them, for the present, chiefly as men occupied in devising and preparing new or revised versions of the Scriptures, and in circulating far and wide those which are already in being; and herein they feel it an honour to further the objects of that Noble Institution-the British and Foreign Bible Society-which unites and cements in one the affections and labours of good men wherever they are found; and, in return, thankfully acknowledges their zeal, and renders all possible support to their plans and labours." "The establishment and increase of Bible Societies among the Greeks are indications of reviving light and vigour in that ancient Church. Connected with the diffusion of general knowledge by their printing-presses at Constantinople, Haivali, Scio, The following passage in the Report, as to the importance of Egypt, as a Missionary Station, is highly impressive : "Before we turn our attention to other quarters," say the Committee of the Hibernian Auxiliary in their last Report, "your Committee cannot avoid remarking the facilities which Egypt affords for introducing the Gospel into Africa. Independent of the Christians, who, though ignorant and degraded, still keep alive the name and profession of our faith, and by their acquaintance with the lan guage and manners, may form most useful co-operators, there is a perpetual concourse of strangers from all parts of the Interior-caravans from Sennaar, Darfur, and Tombuctoo, are, at the proper seasons, in constant activity. The human mind is less likely to stagnate, where there is the perpetual excitement of commercial industry: and not only may the languages so essential to a Missionary undertaking be acquired, but valuable information may be procured; and books, even as an article of trade, may be introduced. Above all, Egypt is at peace-travelling in that country is now attended with comparative safety-the Natives have been familiarized to the sight of European travellers, who, from motives of curiosity or science, have penetrated their deserts-their researches must have had a beneficial effect upon the people, who have hitherto regarded the stupendous monuments of antiquity but as the relics of enchantment, or the depositories of treasure-and the influence seems to have extended to the Bashaw, who has manifested a spirit of liberality and knowledge unusual in his countrymen. The eagerness with which the Scriptures were sought for by the Copts, and the gratitude which they exhibited for the few copies that Mr. Jowett could leave them, seem to prove some symptoms of returning strength in that oppressed and fallen Church; and we trust that, while the pyramid and the the temple have excited enthusiasm and animated research, Christian zeal will not be found deficient in giving aid to that church whose country afforded protection to our Infant Saviour, and whose shrines have been consecrated by the labours of a Cyril and an Athanasius; but that SHE may receive the blessed Gospel from her fellow Christians in the West, who once illumined their ancestors, by the morals, science, and literature, which, 3000 years since, Missionaries of another character collected on her favoured soil." BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.-We regret to find that the Baptist Chapel, and Mission House, at Spanish Town, Jamaica, has been destroyed by fire. Digah.-Extract of a Letter from Mr. Rowe, dated April 3, 1820. The public attention in India is evidently drawing towards the subject of the moral improvement of native females. Brother Lawson has lately published part of a poem, which is directed to this object; and I sincerely hope it will be productive of much good. Several persons are doing what they can to promote native female education, and in many instances we have seen the native prejudices on this subject give way. I trust the time is not far distant when the abominable practice of burning females shall be utterly abolished, and when this degraded class of beings shall be raised to that state of moral dignity, to which they are evidently destined by that God who has declared that his Son shall have the heathen for his inheritance. The public feeling, on this subject, is now much stronger than it ever was before. It is said, the Countess of Loudon has granted a pension to several native females, who have been cast out by their friends, for having resolutely refused to be burned with their deceased husbands. Sister Carey, of Cutwa, informs ns, that she has commenced a native female school there, and that it is going on well. When she wrote, which is now about two months ago, she had fourteen girls in her school and had reason to think she should soon get more. Her prospects then appeared bright, and her heart was much engaged in the object. Great numbers of females seemed to be very desirous of learning to read. There were several young women, belonging to very respectable families, who were desirous of being taught; and as they were not permitted to appear in public, the school-mistress was allowed, according to their request, to go to their houses, after school hours, to teach them to read. Sisters Webberley and Wright, of Agra, are actively engaged in promoting this object. Between two and three years ago, a native of the Ramdass came hither, as an inquirer. He had a daughter, about nine years of age, of the name of Piarree, whom he requested Mrs. Rowe to admit into her little female native school. This was readily granted, and she proved to be a diligent interesting girl. By her needle she soon earned cloth enough to make her a suit of clothes, which she made up herself. She also made considerable progress in reading; but when thus advancing in her education, her father removed to Benares, and she soon after died. About this time Ramdass was baptized by brother Smith of Benares; and a few days ago he came to Digah on a visit. He weeps, and is much affected when he speaks of the death LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.-This Society has sustained the loss of an excellent Missionary, Mr. Pritchett, who died at Vizagapatam, June 13th. He had completed the translation of the whole New Testament into the Teloogo language, and had made considerable progress in the Old. He has left a widow and four children. Contributions to the Wesleyan Missionary Society, received by the General Treasurers, since the Account published last Month. The Committee present their thanks for the following acceptable presents to the Society ---To Mrs. Collinson, Cross-street, Islington, for 12 vols. of the Methodist Magazine; to John Tootal, Esq. Wakefield, for knives and razors, for the New Zealand Mission; to the Rev. Samuel Woolmer, for books and pamphlets; to C. Rider, Esq. Colly-Hurst-Hall, for 25 copies of the Elm-street Collection of Hymn Tunes; to Friends in Manchester, for sundry articles for the New Zealand Mission, by Mr. R. Henson. Printed by T. CORDEUX, 14, City-Road, London. |