church-register, that from the commencement of this mis sion to the present date nine hundred and thirty-eight Negroes have been baptized *."

A few years after the mission sustained a very serious loss by the departure of brother Joseph Jackson, who fell asleep in Jesus on Dec. 9th 1808, in the fortieth year of his age. The loss of such a man was the more to be deplored, as his natural and acquired endowments (having studied at the Brethren's college in Saxony) joined to great urbanity of manners, and fervent zeal in the Lord's service, qualified him for more extensive usefulness in the church of the Brethren +.

The time for which our brethren had long waited, and fervently prayed, seemed now to have arrived, when the gospel would run and be glorified in Jamica also. A greater desire was evidently excited among the Negroes to become savingly acquainted with the truths of christianity. They attended the preaching in greater numbers, and evinced more earnestness in seeking to attain a right understanding of what they heard. For the attainment of this end, our missionaries found a regulation, which they made in 1812, very useful, in meeting their people in classes, especially the catechumens. Concerning this they remark: It is pleasing to see the eagerness, with which the Negroes come to this meeting. We are chiefly occupied with asking questions, and explaining texts of scripture. They are all anxious that they may not come behind in proper answers, and therefore never stay away but from urgent necessity. We find that this mode of instruction makes a more lasting impression upon their minds, than a regular discourse ‡.

Among the new people, who about this time sought for instruction in christian doctrine, was a Mahomedan, who had come twelve miles to visit the missionary. He introduced himself by saying: "Massa, I would have you know that I want to come to you to be baptized. I am a Mahomedan, and in my country we also believe in Moses.

* Per. Acct. Vol. iii. p. 441. ↑ Ibid. Vol. iv. p. 375. ‡ Ibid. Vol. v. p. 329.

But I think my faith is now old and not the right one; I wish to come to Jesus Christ, I have one wife, and she is of the same mind. We have prayers together; and always pray to Jesus Christ. Did we not live so far off, we should have come before now and begged you to baptize

October 4th 1812 a violent hurricane, followed in a few days by a smart shock of an earthquake, which continued half a minute, did very considerale damage in the island, and plunged the Negroes into very great distress, as all their provision-grounds were destroyed. Brother Lang, in a letter dated CARMEL, March 15th 1813†, writes: "Whenever we visit them in their huts they cry out: Massa, hunger kill we;' and indeed they look so lean and emaciated, that we cannot behold them without pity. It will be two months before the plantain and Indian corn become fit for use. Were it not for our coffee planters who, when coffee fell so much in price, planted plenty of a certain fruit, growing in the ground, which the storm cannot carry away, the poor people would absolutely be in danger of starving."

In June 1815 brother Ward and his wife arrived from England, having been appointed for the service of this mission. Soon after their arrival they took the charge of the instruction of the Negroes on Island and Windsor estates, and fixed on WILLIAMSFIELD, as the most convenient place for their residence. On Island there were some baptized Negroes, the gospel having been `occasionally preached there for many years, but those belonging to Windsor were ignorant heathen. The difference between them was striking, and appeared even in their manners and customs. The missionary soon found that his labour in these places was attended with the divine blessing. His auditories were, in general, large and very attentive, and many desired more special instruction, that they might be prepared for receiving holy baptism ‡.

The endeavours of our brethren at CARMEL were equally Per. Acc. Vol. v. p. 436. † Ibid. p. 436. Ibid. Vol. iv. p. 327.

successful. Brother Lang writes: "The number of our hearers is on the increase, and the preaching of the gospel evinces its power on the hearts of the Negroes, which also appears in their moral conduct. Some walk in true fellowship with our Saviour, and have received the assurance of the forgiveness of their sins; others are mourning on account of sin, and seeking salvation in Jesus. Of the latter class there are about two hundred. Last sabbath a Negroe from an estate, about fifteen miles from CARMEL, brought me a stick, marked with seven notches, each notch denoting ten Negroes, informing me that there were so many Negroes on that estate engaged in praying to the Lord. About twenty of them attend divine worship at Peru: they are all unbaptized, but desirous of receiving holy baptism. The awakening spreads more and more, and we entertain hopes that our Saviour will now gather a rich harvest in Jamaica *"

Of the new stations Elim and Peru were the most flourishing. The attornies and overseers on these estates, no less than the proprietors in England, promoted the endeavours of our missionaries by every means in their power. This indeed was now the case on all the plantations.

In the spring of 1816, however, some gentlemen endeavoured to obstruct the work, and for a short time intimidated the Negroes, so that the preachings were less numerously attended. Complaints were even lodged against the missionaries before the governor, but being unsupported by evidence, he was too just to condemn them without proof. And as an application on their part to be heard in their defence was not attended to, they determined to be quiet and commit their cause to God. In a little while the storm subsided and they could undisturb edly continue their labours +.

Thus it appears that the Brethren's missionaries occupy four settlements or stations in this island, viz. BOGUE,

p. 367.

* Per. Acct. Vol. iv. p. 411. † Ibid. Vol vi. It seems, that they removed from this station in 1816, having, erected a new mission-house at a little distance, and called it EDEN. Ibid. p. 369.

MESOPOTAMIA, CARMEL, and WILLIAMS-FIELD, and have besides regular preaching-places on several plantations, the principal of which are, Elim, Peru, Union, Two-milewood, Island, and Windsor.

SECTION III

Antigua.

THE missionaries, residing in St. Thomas, had long directed their attention to those islands in the West Indies, which belonged to the crown of England, hoping to find means of preaching the gospel also in them. The paucity of their number, however, and the frequent deaths, which occurred among them, rendered this benevolent design abortive for a considerable time. At length, in 1756, brother Samuel Isles, who had spent eight years in St. Thomas, went to ANTIGUA. On his arrival he waited on the governor, and shewed him the act which had passed in favour of the Brethren in 1749. Some gentlemen patronised him, giving him permission to preach on their plantations. The following year he had the pleasure of performing the first baptismal transaction in this island on a Negroe woman. In the sequel, proposals were made to him of building a place of worship for the Negroes. This was effected in 1761, on a piece of ground, in the town of ST. JOHN's, bought for the purpose of forming a missionary establishment.

For several years the progress of the work was rather slow. Brother Isles, and his two assistants John Bennet and Wm. Lister, continued to preach the gospel wherever a door was opened. On the one hand they met with no remarkable opposition, and on the other they saw no very striking effects attend their labours. Samuel Isles finished his race in 1764, having spent eight years in the service of this mission, during which period only thirty-six Negroes had been baptized. His successors did not relax in their endeavours, but sowed the seed of the gospel, in hopes of a fruitful harvest at some future period, for as

yet the prospect was very discouraging, their congregation in ST. JOHN's having been reduced to fourteen members, and few of the heathen shewing any inclination to attend the church *.

This was the unpromising state of things, when brother Brown arrived there from North America in May 1769. It pleased the Sovereign Lord of his vineyard to crown the zealous exertions of this missionary with signal success. Imbibing a measure of the spirit of his divine Master, Brown was not content with addressing the Negroes in public, but followed them into their huts, and in private conversation earnestly and affectionately entreated them to attend to the things belonging to their peace. Besides performing the regular services in the town, he preached on two plantations in the country. The auditories increased; many heathen were converted, and in less than two years the baptized amounted to upwards of eighty. These invited their friends and acquaintances to go with them to church, and many, who came at first from mere curiosity, were by degrees so powerfully awakened, that they ne ver absented themselves but in case of the most urgent necessity.

This increase of their congregation rendered the enlargement of the chapel necessary. On this occasion the christian Negroes, in a very pleasing manner, evidenced the influence of the gospel on their minds. When they came to the meetings, on week-day evenings, each brought a few stones or other materials with him. A baptized Negroe, who was a mason, with the help of a few others, did all the masonry, and others did the carpenter's work, and completed the whole building in their free hours, after their daily tasks were done. And those, who could not assist in the labour, provided victuals for the workmen.

Difficulties and trials were not wanting. The brethren, who had hitherto assisted brother Brown, were obliged to leave the island on account of ill health, and brother Ben. Brookshaw, who arrived there in 1771, and whose quali

* Brethren's History, Vol. i. p. 485, 545, 601, and Vol. ii. p. 105.