No. 12.]

COCHIN.

AT Cochin, where I arrived on the 12th of March, I was rejoiced to find the Rev. Mr. Ridsdale faithfully and diligently employed in the several objects of his Missionary Labours; and, I trust, the uniformity and consistency of his Christian conduct have gone far to remove the difficulties which a series of painful circumstances have hitherto thrown in his way.

No Chaplain being at present stationed here, he has very kindly given his gratuitous services to the Congregation, which amounts to about 200, who would otherwise be deprived of all Means of Grace. These voluntary labours are of great value to the interests of our venerable Communion, and are gratefully acknowledged by many of those to whom he ministers and it will be highly gratifying to the Committee to be assured that he does not, on this account, remit in his exertions among the three several Classes to whom his Missionary Labours are immediately directed, viz. the Jews, the Roman Catholics, and the Heathens.

The number of White Jews that have left Jew Town in the last two years is, 16 Men, 11 Women, 7 Children; Total 34. The number now there is, 40 Men, 76 Women, 92 Children; Total 208.

The number of Black Jews that have emigrated in the last two years is about 100. In a very short time, the Colony, at least the White Jews, will probably be extinct. The sight of the Services of their Synagogues, under such circumstances, is full of most melancholy reflections.

+

The number of Converts from Heathenism is but small; but attendance at the Malayalim Services, both in the Church and in the Bazaar, is occasionally considerable; and there are other promising circumstances in his Mission, particularly in the great interest lately excited among the Cokanee Brahmins, who are [RECORD, Dec. 1830.]

[VOL. I.

reading the Scriptures diligently, and of whom Mr. Ridsdale has strong hopes, though he wisely forbears to speak largely of them at present.

Among the Roman Catholics he has been more successful. The Church of Rome here offers the best possible advantage to an assailant, for it is literally divided against itself. The higher Orders of the Clergy are quarrelling with each other, and are generally despised and feared by their flocks; and, wherever the people can find means of escaping from the iron hand that oppresses them, they are eager to join our Communion. This observation is true of the whole of the Peninsula; in every part of which there appears a simultaneous movement of the Romish Converts, to escape, where it is possible, from the trammels of Ignorance and Exaction. The Committee have a recent instance of this, under their own immediate observation, in the neighbourhood of Madras. The same is still more remarkably seen in the accession of several Roman-Catholic Villages in Tanjore to our Communion: and similar instances, in Dindigul, Travancore, and Tellicherry, abundantly testify that one feeling of dissatisfaction pervades the most distant Congregations of that corrupt Communion. Mr. Ridsdale is much assisted in his exertions, among the Portuguese Christians, by Mr. Lima, late Franciscan at Goa, and Resident for the last six months at Cochin. He is an excellent preacher, earnest and impressive; and his character has not only been without suspicion during his stay here, but his labours have been unwearied, especially among his former Brethren. The Committee have already kindly acceded to Mr. Ridsdale's request for an addition to his salary; and I feel assured that he will prove himself worthy of the confidence reposed in him, and be a valuable, Auxiliary in the Mission.

I examined Mrs. Ridsdale's FEMALE 2 M

SCHOOL, in which there are 20 Children. These, as well as Mr. Ridsdale's Boys' School, are boarded in their own premises. Many of them are poor Roman Catholics, whom their parents have entirely given up. The Girls make lace, for which Cochin is famous, and sew plainwork their reading in Malayalim, and knowledge of Religious Truth, is very pleasing; which is one, among many other testimonies to the unwearied zeal of this excellent woman, who, in the midst of many discouragements and great personal suffering, has exerted herself in all his plans of usefulness, even beyond her strength.

COIMBATORE.

Before I conclude this Report, I beg leave to bring to the notice of the Committee a small but very interesting Colony of Native Christians, whom I found at Coimbatore, and whom I am anxious to commend to their fostering care. They are Settlers from Tanjore; and are chiefly the family and connections of Francis Mallah Pillay, who has been for many years Sub-Treasurer in the Collector's Office. Their character seems to be quite irreproachable. Francis came to see me on my arrival, bringing with him a beautiful Pastoral Letter which they had lately received from Mr. Hallewell, breathing all the Christian spirit of that excellent man. They are very earnest in their petition for a Missionary: but how can one be spared at present? A Catechist may perhaps be given; and the occasional visits and superintendence of the Society's Missionaries on the Hills might ensure some degree of regularity in the administration of the Services and Sacraments of our Church. There are about 30 souls. Many Roman Catholics are in the neighbourhood, wholly neglected by their Priests; and much good might be extended amongst them, by cultivating this interesting family. Under the auspices of Mr. Sullivan, they have enjoyed many advantages. He supported, from his own funds, a School for 40 Natives, Heathen as well as Christian, in which English was taught; and many have been excellently educated. I had the gratification of reading Prayers and Preaching to them in the evening of the day which I spent there, and administered the Lord's Supper to 20 Native Communicants. Permit me to request, that, if possible, they may not be left destitute of the Means of Grace; but that a Catechist, under the direction of the Rev. Mr. More

wood, may be permanently fixed with them.

I have only to entreat your indulgence for the length to which this Report has extended; and to assure the Society of my cordial satisfaction in all I have witnessed of the prosperity of their Missions throughout the Archdeaconry, and my earnest prayers for their increasing and abundant success.

Tinnebelly.

The Missionaries, finding the opportunities of extending their operations in this District growing far beyond the means with which the Committee have been enabled to supply them, have published an Address, in which they earnestly ap-. peal to the Christians in India for enlarged support. This Address, which we subjoin, is signed by the Rev. C. T. E. Rhenius and the Rev. Bernhard Schmid, and is dated May 3, 1830.

General Influence of the Mission on the Natives.

Of what use has all Preaching and Teaching been hitherto? Thousands of rupees have been spent, in sending out Missionaries, in establishing Schools, in printing and distributing Tracts and the Scriptures. What has been the effect?— Great every way. For the knowledge of the True God, of His will, and of true morality, has been diffused; whereby thousands of Natives see and acknowledge the folly and vanity of Idolatry; and have become, in a manner, ashamed of it. Many, indeed, remain in the profession of Heathenism, particularly the rich and the wise among them, for very obvious reasons: still, their better know ledge, derived from the Sacred Scriptures, is not, cannot be useless to them: it will find its way into their hearts; and gradually produce an ardent desire for deliverance from the chains of sin and bad habits, with which they find themselves more and more to be bound. Without that knowledge, how will they arrive at this glorious end? Without light, how will they know what darkness is? Knowledge of the Truth is, therefore, of exceeding. great importance to them. Besides, it is not without an actual improvement in their manners and conduct. As a proof, we need

only state, that here, in Tinnevelly, the Gentlemen in Authority find those Heathens, in their Offices, who are acquainted with Christianity more trustworthy, more intelligent, and more diligent servants, than those who are not. A poor man, who cannot read, observed once to us: Since the spread of Christianity, lying has greatly decreased among us and what man dares tell a lie, who really believes that there is an Omniscient and Holy God!" Is not this a blessed effect of the extension of Christian Knowledge? and is not this an object worthy of our most assiduous attention?

Great Extent of the Mission.

But the good effect of making known the Gospel in this District has not stopped here: we can rejoice in still greater things. It is now nearly ten years since we arrived at Palamcottah; during which time we have endeavoured, in dependence on the Divine Blessing, to discharge our duties towards, our fellow men, by preaching, by establishing Christian Schools, by preparing and circulating, in Tamul Dia lect, Religious Tracts and the Scriptures, by forming two Native Seminaries (Male and Female), where, besides Theology, History, Geography, the Elements of Astronomy, and other Sciences are taught. When we came, we had no Congregation, except the people of our households, with a few persons of the Tanjore Mission;, and no Christian Schools, but 6 or 7, Heathen Schools, which the philanthropic exertions of the former Chaplain had left for our superintendence. And now, we have 244 Villages, in each of which there is a number of Christian Families, formed. into 64 Catechists' Stations; containing, in all, more than 2000 Families, consisting of more than 7500 souls, instructed by 64 Native Catechist-Teachers or Catechists -62 Christian Schools; of which 38 are taught by separate Masters, and 24 by, the Catechists, in which 1,300 Children (including 112 Girls) are instructed-36 Native Youths form a Seminary, from which a number have, in the course of the last six years, been employed in the Congregations and Schools-There are in these 244 Villages at least 150 Churches or Prayer-Houses, of different sizes and quality-A pretty large and substantial Church has been erected at Mooroogenkooritchy, near the Fort of Palamcottah, our Mission Station-Seven or eight smaller substantial Chapels have been erected, or are erecting, in entirely Chris tian Villages belonging to the Mission:

many of the rest are old Heathen Temples, converted by the people into Chris tian Prayer-Houses. We have said only 150 Churches, but nearly every one of the 244 Villages has a separate Building for Prayer and Instruction.

We need not particularize the gradual steps by which this increase of the Christian Church has been brought about: they have been annually laid before the Public, in the Madras Committee's Reports, and in the Home-Society's Publications. This summary statement will suffice to shew the fruit of the Grace of God on the people, in the course of ten years-small, indeed, when compared with the mass of the people that are still in Heathenish Darkness! but enough to rejoice and encourage our hearts, and to silence objections against the cause of Missions. In fulfilment of the predictions of the Word of God, they have literally cast their Idols to the moles and. bats (Is. ii. 20): they have come and said, We will be the Lord's ;" and subscribed with their hands unto the Lord, desiring to be taught in His ways, and to walk in His paths (Is. ii. 3. xliv. 5.) Estimate of the Influence of the Gospel on. the Native Christians.

But, are all these 2000 Families true Christians? To this we do not hesitate to answer "No; not all." They are a mixture, as our Saviour foretold that His Church would be- The Kingdom of Hea ven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind (Matth. xiii. 47). But all have renounced Idolatry, and the service of Devils; and put themselves and Families under Christian Instruction, to learn to worship God in spirit and in truth.-And is not this a great blessing to them? Is an exchange of a false, childish, impure, filthy, stupefying, degrading worship, for the reasonable, holy, enlightening, exalting, glorious Worship of the True God in Christ -is an exchange of the execrable stories of wicked Gods and men, inculcating and encouraging all kinds of vices, for the blessed, soul-converting, enlightening histories, and holy precepts of the Scriptures, a small thing? Will the people get better, so long as they think that their Idols are Gods, their lying and fighting Gods worthy of imitation, and their filthy stories pleasant things? conviction of the contrary, a renunciation of them, a desire to know the Truth, a readiness to be instructed therein, are absolutely necessary to true conversion :

A

they are, in fact, the beginning of it, When, therefore, we say that they are not yet all true Christians, we chiefly mean, that they are not yet all high in the attainment of Christian Knowledge and Experience. Many among them may also have embraced Christianity, in the first place, merely because their Masters or Friends did so; and others, because they saw the improved condition of the Native Christians, and desired to be delivered

from oppression and wrong. But even among them we have had many instances of their becoming, by degrees, truly enlightened and blameless characters, who would endure any thing for Christ's sake, and are an honour to the Christian Church. In short, there are many who are really benefited by the change; and exhibit the regenerating influence of the Gospel on their souls, by a thorough change of principle.* We have many instances of persons enduring the most vexatious, injurious, and provoking treatment of the Heathen; not, indeed, without temptation and pain; but with a meekness, and patience, and self-denial, which shew, at once, that they are strengthened by a Higher Power, and that the blessed injunctions of the Gospel have taken hold of their hearts. We have instances, in which persons, after their conversion, have come, of their own accord, and confessed their having formerly connived at cheating the Government, by the Native Revenue Officers; and their being compelled by the Gospel not to do so any longer, but to walk honestly. Just now, a person, who has lately requested to be instructed, is earnestly desirous to pay his due to the Owner of his Village, even before the time, only in order to cut off every occasion for opposing this step, and distressing him and his family for it. We have many instances of their forgiving their enemies for Christ's sake-of their love of truth-of their lively hope of eternal life. Many have shewn a complete horror when thinking on their former worship of senseless Idols and cruel Devils; and praise the Grace of God, which gave them the Light of the Gospel. Several have, on their death-beds, exhibited a confidence and joy in God, which

* Such persons only are admitted into full Communion of the Church by Baptism: the rest remain Candidates for it, Hitherto, about 500 have been baptized, including Children. Not that there are not many more, among the rest, worthy of the Ordinance; but they are delayed, partly by our carefulness in the matter, and partly by the too-many labours on our hands. 14. ONS

astonished the bye-standers, and made them express a wish likewise to die the death of the righteous. On the contrary, we have instances, also, of backsliders, and others who allow their evil tempers and habits to be troublesome to the rest. But who has authorised us not to expect such? Had not the Apostolic Churches the same? And can we marvel, that, among those who arise from such a depth of corruption and wickedness, and from so gross a darkness as Hindooism is, there should, now and then, appear remainders of the same? From what a labyrinth of false notions and evil habits have they to extricate themselves! With how many temptations are they surrounded! To what fears and sufferings are they exposed, by their persecuting enemies, by the false accusations and complaints against them! If they, then, occasionally fall, by allowing themselves, perhaps, a lie, or getting into a passion by provocation, we have rather to commiserate and help them, than condemn them, and at once pronounce them hypocrites. It would fill

a large volume, were we to enlarge on this subject; but this is not our present design. The failings of the Native Christians, or the intrusion of real hypocrites into the Christian Church, so readily animadverted upon by some, do in no wise diminish our duty of teaching them the Way of Salvation through Jesus Christ. What they are not now, they may become hereafter. A tree wants time to come to maturity, and to yield all the fruit we can reasonably expect. Vindication of the Character and Motives of the Native Christians.

ΓΙ

But are not all these Christians of the Lowest Castes only, the dregs of the people ? And suppose it were so, what of that Shall that hinder us in our endeavour to promote, and in rejoicing in, their conversion? What, however, are called the Low Castes of the people' makes up a very large portion of the Natives: they are the labouring class, without whom the rest cannot live. From the neglect and contempt in which they have been held for ages, they are, indeed, very ignorant, with very little or no moral restraint on their natural passions; without excitements to appear decent; full of slavish fear and blind submission; and therefore easily made tools of by the Higher Castes, fors perpetrating their vile purposes: still they are our fellow-men, esteemed equally

with us before God, and capable of the highest cultivation. What a blessing will it be to the Country, when all these Low Castes will be truly converted to Christ! A great mass of evil will then be removed from this Nation.-And shall we not labour for that end? Shall we not instruct them, if they desire it? Shall we not stimulate them to it, if they do not? We should be perfectly content, therefore, if our Congregations consisted only of these Low People. The value of the soul does not depend on the native divisions of Caste, or any outward advantage whatever. But the fact is, that only a few Congregations are of these Lowest Castes: the Shanar Caste has yielded the most; and several are of the common Soodra and Moodeliar Castes.

Still, Do they not become Christians, in order to be freed from taxes, or to deprive others of their lands, &c., by our instrumentality? No. These are false accusations, which the enemies of Christianity bring against all these people, because such cases may have occurred; though, we are confident, without success: such persons must soon find out their mistake, and either leave the Church, or yield to better feelings and views. These idle accusations probably originate with persons who have been obliged not to extort from the Christians more than what was right, and to restore to them what they had unjustly made their own. We could write long histories on this subject: suffice it to say, that the Christians, so far from being freed from taxes, are, in not a few instances, obliged to pay even more than they formerly did in their heathen state, by which the Native Officers intend to force them back to Heathenism-that the Native Christians do not refuse to pay any taxes, but such as are not ordered by Government-and that they most properly desire to be exempted from all undue exactions which the Native Officers and Miraskarers make to enrich themselves, and from all demands for the support of Idolatry. As of old, so also now, there are many Demetriuses, whose craft is in danger; and who therefore vent their ill-will by such false accusations, and indulge in styling the Christians "slaves," "senseless Toddy-people," &c. If Moodeliars also become Christians, then, of course, they are also without understanding. But God will, and does, confound the calumniators.mestesun-wollat no one vadt

1

Rapid Increase of Congregations and

Schools.

That Christianity actually rises, and Idolatry falls, in the estimation of all classes of the Heathen in general, is evidenced, by their desire of having Christian Schools established in their Villages (even Brahmins do not now hesitate doing so); by several individuals among them making, now and then, presents of lands to the Mission; and by the steady increase of the Congregations. It is this increase of Congregations and Schools which increases our expenditure nearly every month. The present expenditure per month is For Catechists

1

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Schoolmasters.

Rupees

350

228

Now, what Christian is there, who does not rejoice at this state of things, notwithstanding all imperfections; and cordially desire, that not only whole district, but the whole land, be brought to the knowledge of the True God, and to the practice of Christian Virtues? But is the DESIRE alone sufficient? If one of you say to them, 'Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled, notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful,' what does it profit? (Jam. ii. 16.) We therefore call upon all the Christian Community in India, to come to our assistance. If the increase of Congregations and Schools proceeds on the same scale as hitherto, our present expenditure will soon be doubled: the Society at home will not be able to bear it. The Local Contributions, with which we are annually favoured, will likewise be inadequate to supply the deficiency. Unless, therefore, extraordinary efforts are made, the re-establishment of the Female Seminary will still be protracted; all new applications for Catechists and Schoolmasters, and for aid to erect Chapels and School Rooms, must be left unanswered; the progress of the Gospel