WORK OF GRACE IN JAMAICA. THE importance of Christian Education, as a means of advancing the great object of the Missionary work-the conversion of the heathen to Christ-has frequently been brought under the attention of our readers; but seldom has it been more happily exemplified than by the facts mentioned in the following communication, Jan. 31, from the Rev. Robert Jones, of Chapelton, at present on a visit to this country : Feeling assured that you desire to be acquainted with everything of a cheering character connected with the deeply interesting and important work in which we are engaged, it is my happiness to inform you, that, within the last month, we have been greatly encouraged by the undoubted evidence of the commencement of a work of grace in the hearts of several of the young people connected with our congregation. During the last ten days, about 13 youths, between the ages of 16 and 21, have expressed to me, privately and by letter, their sincere determination to devote themselves to the service of the Lord; and Mrs. Jones has been visited by six or eight females, evincing very hopeful signs of concern for their salvation. The majority of these have been educated in our schools, and, through parental influence, have been preserved from the vices and immoralities so prevalent amongst the youth of this country. But, although they have continued to attend the means of grace, and have manifested much that is moral and pleasing in their lives, they have not until lately evinced any deep anxiety for their spiritual welfare. They now appear very sincere, humble, and earnest, in their inquiries after the right way. Some appear to be under deep conviction of sin, while others are drawn in a gentle manner to the Saviour, opening their hearts like "Lydia to attend to these things." This will be best seen by a few extracts from their letters. One young man writes as follows: "I have made up my mind to devote myself sincerely to the service of God. I have received many good instructions, and especially of late, have been privileged with much good advice at our Sabbath-evening meetings; and I think it is now full time that I should shew the good which I have received from those instructions. I hope the Lord will receive me. It will be the joy of my minister to see that his labours for the young are not altogether in vain in the Lord. It will be my joy, and the joy of my parents, to see that I am openly and entirely taking the Lord for my guide; and it will be my happiness through life, and in death, and throughout eternity, that I gave my heart to the Lord in my youth. I am yet young, and Satan and my own heart would tempt me to put off this important subject, but I hope they will not prevail, for I feel the importance of embracing Christ now." Another, under deep conviction of sin, thus expresses himself: "With tears of distress and with great sorrow of heart, I now write to acknowledge to you that I have been very careless, and have not walked according to the truth. I have given way to my own sinful heart and forsaken your kind advice and faithful teaching-I have sunk my soul into woe-I have dishonoured the Saviour, and am undone. What shall I do? I cannot stand my griefI know not how to look up. Have mercy upon me O God, according to thy lovingkindness, according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions." His sister, who was for a time servant in our family, writes as follows: "I now feel anxious to follow Christ, for sometimes I feel so wretched and sinful that I cannot lift up my eyes when I see you or any good person. But Christ has said to all such as seek his mercy Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest;' and he is 'a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.' Sometimes my heart feels so hard that I think grace cannot break it; but, when I feel all this hardness, I beg of God to take it away and give me a good heart. Oh that I had followed what you have taught me and still teach me! How have I slighted the mercy of God! I feel something in my heart that troubles me, and when I feel it I fly to Christ for refuge. I pray to God to examine me, and prove me, and try the reins of my heart, that I may follow him better. Oh, minister, do pray for me that God may manifest himself to my soul!"' I might give you many similar extracts, but these will suffice to shew that God is carrying on his work in their souls. This simultaneous and hopeful movement amongst them has arisen from their seeing one of their companions drawn into sin. The circum stance made such an impression upon them that they conversed seriously, one with another, and "fear came on them all." Some of the pious youths connected with the Church took advantage of the impression, and exhorted them, by letters and privately, to give themselves unreservedly, and at once, to the Lord. I find that several of them meet together after our evening-services to read religious books, and converse on their spiritual condition. I overheard some of them one morning before sun-rise, engaging in prayer, and was deeply affected by their simple, fervent, and sincere expressions. Some of them have repaired to the room of the Native Teacher before day-light to seek his counsel and his prayers. We hope the Lord will graciously smile upon them, and adopt them as His own. CHINESE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AND PREPARATORY SCHOOL. OUR Missionary Brethren at Hong-Kong unite in urging the extreme desirableness of enlarging their educational plans; and, with this object in view, the Rev. Dr. Legge has addressed the following statement to the Foreign Secretary. The Directors cordially approve of the design, and will rejoice if the necessary means can be found for bringing it into operation. The Preparatory School at present contains 32 pupils, and the Theological Seminary three, with an immediate prospect of five more being added; and our Brethren propose to increase the entire number to 50. The maintenance of the pupils thus augmented would require upwards of 2007. per annum; and the Directors can only appeal to the liberality of Christian friends for donations, or annual subscriptions, to meet this increased outlay. Writing from Victoria, in February last, Dr. Legge observes : In a letter forwarded to you in November, I stated that I would take an early opportunity of addressing you on the subject of the Preparatory School and Theological Seminary at this station. I now proceed to do so, under the conviction that my letter will receive from yourself and the Directors an attentive consideration; and, if the plans which I shall advocate in it, approve themselves to your judgment as well calculated to promote the establishment of the Redeemer's kingdom in China, the pecuniary aid necessary to carry them into practice, will, I feel assured, be soon found. Five years have elapsed since a series of resolutions were passed by your Missionaries assembled on this Island, for the establishment of a Theological Seminary and Preparatory School. A few months after the adoption of these resolutions, the Preparatory School was commenced. The only pupils in it, at first, were two sons of Ho-A-sun the colporteur, and an orphan boy, who had all been brought from Malacca. Their number was gradually increased, as our means of accommodation were enlarged. By the end of 1844, they amounted to eighteen, and had been joined by two other boys from Malacca, who follow ed us to this island of their own accord. The progress which the boys have made in the study both of the Chinese and English languages has not been small. Their whole number amounts at present to thirty-two. Seven of these constitute the first class; and, though they differ considerably in the degrees of their proficiency, I should not fear for five of them, at an examination, to transfer them to the Theological Seminary, on the required qualification. But, what is of much greater importance than any advancement which they may have made in general knowledge, we have had to rejoice over several of them deciding to be on the Lord's side. The time, it seems to me, has now fully come to enlarge our plans, and to carry out all the objects contemplated by the brethren in their resolutions of 1843. The Theological Seminary and the Preparatory School should be separated, and carried on as much as possible in distinct apartments. There could be no Theological Seminary until there were suitable converts to be trained in it, and none were obtainable until Le Kumlin, Sung Fut-Keem, and A-Sou made a public profession of their faith, in 1849, in Huntly. But now we have these, and several others, who ought certainly to be associated with them by the beginning of another year. With these three Students and the 32 Scholars, we have fully reached the limit of our accommodation; and when a boy of the school passes into a young man-a Student of the Seminary-his lodging must be larger, and of a somewhat better character than it was before. I beg, therefore, to propose to the Directors, as the most economical plan, to fit up the whole of the rooms on the lower story of the Mission-House, so as to make provision for the accommodation of about FIFTY PUPILS, including Scholars and Students; and that the room over it be prepared for use as a Library and Lecture-Room. Now, as to the expenses of the Preparatory School, the food of a boy costs about one dollar and a half per month. There must be a Cook and a Chinese Teacher to every twenty boys: there is a monthly outlay also for school-materials and sundries; sayFood of 20 boys, per month Teacher School materials, &c. 30 dollars. 10 Twenty boys will thus cost about 684 dollars, or 1427. 108. a-year, and fifty boys, 4271. 108. To the Preparatory School the Directors already make a grant of 150l. a-year; 51. a-year is regularly given by G. Jelley, Esq. of Elton Mills, Northamptonshire; and 67. by the Juvenile Auxiliary of the Weigh-house Chapel, London. From friends in Huntly and elsewhere, we may calculate on as much more as will carry the grant of 150l. up to 2001. Something may also be done at Hong-Kong towards the support of the school. Since the beginning of this year, four friends have promised me annual subscriptions amounting to 115 dollars. But if the number of pupils be thus increased, it will not only be necessary to provide enlarged accommodation, but I must be assisted by another teacher from England. I would therefore beg the Directors to send out a teacher to assist in conducting the school-a Schoolmaster like one of those who have long been connected with your Missionary labours in the West Indies. The points to be principally regarded in his selection would be ability for teaching, and a true spirit of devotion to his work. PROPOSED CHINESE BOARDING SCHOOL. OUR devoted Missionaries at Shanghae have determined, with the cordial approbation of the Directors, to establish a BOARDING SCHOOL FOR TWENTY Boys, in connexion with their Mission, provided the necessary funds can be obtained. The necessity of making some commencement towards providing the means of mental and religious culture for the rising generation of Shanghae, forming no small proportion of a population which amounts to nearly 300,000 souls, will be apparent from a single glance at the state of literature and science in China, and the universal prevalence of a system of idolatry bordering, in effect, upon absolute atheism. In the existing Chinese Schools scarcely any true knowledge, even of a natural kind, is imparted; the system of moral instruction, their only redeeming feature, is radically defective; and they contain not a single trace of the peculiar features of the Christian revelation. Among the encouragements to the proposed undertaking may be mentioned, first, the high esteem in which education is held by the Chinese generally; and, secondly, the facility of obtaining suitable children to receive the advantages of instruction based upon the Word of God. To these considerations may be added the success which has attended the Chinese Female Boarding School at Amoy, and still more the animating progress and blessed results of similar institutions in India, where no encouragements existed in the first instance, but numerous obstacles of the most formidable kind. As to the anticipated results of Christian Schools in China, especially when formed upon the plan now proposed, our brethren express the conviction that, in addition to their more immediate advantages, nothing will more powerfully tend to overthrow the prevailing system of idolatry, nor can any plan be better adapted to lay the foundation of a native ministry,-our only hope, under Divine favour, for the conversion of China to the faith of Christ. In the projected Boarding School, it is intended that the English system of teaching shall, as far as practicable, be adopted, but that the Chinese language shall alone be used as the medium of instruction, and no other than Chinese Christian Teachers be engaged in the school, acting of course under the general superintendence of our Missionary brethren. Children between the ages of 7 and 12 will be eligible for admission, and the course of instruction will extend to 7 years. The sum of £5 per annum will be sufficient for the maintenance and education of one pupil, and the expense of erecting a suitable school-house will be about £150. As the necessary expenditure cannot be met from the general resources of the Society, the Directors strongly commend this very interesting and important object to the generous consideration of their friends in London and throughout the country, in the confident hope that the requisite amount will be cheerfully and promptly subscribed. Contributions for the annual support of a Pupil, or towards the erection of the School-house, may be remitted to the Rev. Arthur Tidman, Foreign Secretary, Mission House, Blomfield Street, Finsbury. ORDINATION OF MR. C. BUCH. ON Tuesday, April 24, Mr. Carl Buch, appointed by the Directors as one of the Superintendents of the EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, Calcutta, was ordained at RUSHOLME ROAD CHAPEL, Manchester. The Rev. J. L. Poore, of Salford, read the Scriptures and prayed; Rev. Thomas Boaz gave the Introductory Address, presenting a view of the scene of labour; and the Rev. Dr. Halley proposed the Questions. The Ordination Prayer was presented by the Rev. James Griffin; the Rev. Robert Vaughan, D.D., delivered the Charge; and the concluding Prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr. M‘All. ARRIVAL OF REV. R. JONES. On the 5th of June, the Rev. Robert Jones, accompanied by Mrs. Jones and family, arrived in London from Chapelton, Jamaica, on a visit to this country. DEATH OF MRS. DICKSON. WITH sincere regret we record the death of Mrs. Dickson, wife of the Rev. Robert Dickson, late of the Jamaica Mission. After an exemplary and useful course of Christian service, during a period of nearly eight years, at Prospect Penn, Jamaica, she returned to this country in consequence of the failure of her health, and died in London on the 4th of April last. She departed in the full enjoyment of the hopes and consolations of the Gospel; and, while deeply sympathising with our bereaved brother under his severe affliction, we rejoice in the assurance that for her to die was gain. REV. MICAIAH HILL. In the month of April we had the painful duty of announcing the demise of this devoted and excellent Missionary; and we now add a brief account of the circumstances attending the mournful event, received in a communication from the Rev. James Kennedy, of Benares :deceased brother to the grave, in the sure hope of a glorious resurrection. "The death of Mr. Hill took place on the 3rd of February, at a quarter-past nine A.M., in a native boat, on the Ganges, about twentyfour miles below Benares. The afflictive intelligence reached us on Saturday night, in a note from a gentleman who happened to be in a boat near Mr. Hill's, and who went on board as soon as he heard what had occurred. He immediately sent a messenger to Benares, communicating to us the tidings, and requesting us to make arrangements for the funeral. "Yesterday afternoon, Mr. Shurman and myself came down to the residence of Mr. Small, the Baptist Missionary, which is close to the Ghat, and whither we had directed the body to be taken. Shortly after our arrival it was brought to the house, and we proceeded with it to the burial-ground, accompanied by the Civil Surgeon of the station, and our Baptist brethren. I there conducted a devotional service, and we committed the body of our "It would have been most gratifying to his friends to have had his dying testimony to the Gospel he had so long preached, and the excellence of the Saviour in whom he had long believed; but they have the better and more satisfactory testimony of a life spent in his Master's cause: and their assurance that he is now where sin and sorrow are unknown, is not diminished by the absence of the last words of faith and hope, always so gratifying to the friends of departing saints. The Saviour whom he loved was, doubtless, with him in his last moments, and has borne him safely to the better land." The immediate cause of Mr. Hill's death was a violent attack of diarrhoea, continued for several weeks, added to the exhausting effects of a severe cough, from which he had long suffered. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. The best Thanks of THE DIRECTORS are presented to the following, viz.— For Rev. C. Hardie, Samoa. To Friends at Chester, for a parcel of apparel. For Mrs. Simpson's School, Morea. To Friends at Market Harborough, for a parcel of maps, &c. For Rev. C. Pitman, Rarotonga. To Miss Flower, Tottenham, for a parcel of useful articles. For Rev. W. Mills, Samoa. To Friends at Rawmarsh, for a box of useful articles; to the Ladies' Missionary Working Society, Bromley, Kent, for a box of apparel. For Rev. J. Sunderland. To the Ladies' Missionary Working Society, Bromley, Kent, for a box of useful articles. For the South Seas. To a Friend of Missions, Isle of Wight, for a case of hats, &c. For Dr. Hobson, Canton. To Mrs. F. Wills and Friend, Bristol, for a box of useful articles; to Mr. Marnock, London, for a box of apparel. For Mrs. Young's School, Amoy. To Miss Gervis and Friends, Hackney, for a parcel of apparel; and to Friends at Petworth, by Mrs. Davies, for a box of useful articles. For Bellary. A parcel of magazines, &c., from Peckham. For Rev. R. C. Mather's Orphan School, Mirzapore. To Ladies at Chiswick and Richmond, for a box of fancy articles. For Mrs. Rice's Schools, Bangalore. To the Society for Promoting Female Education in India, in connection with the Church of Scotland, Paisley, for a box of useful articles. For Mrs. Porter, Madras. To the Ladies' Missionary Working Society, Sherborne, for a box of apparel. For Mrs. Lewis, Nagercoil. To the Ladies' Missionary Working Society, Zion Chapel, Bridgwater, for a box of useful articles. For Rev. J. Read, Kat River. To the Queen street Sunday-school, Sheffield, for a box of useful articles. For Miss Helmore, Lekatlong. To the Juvenile Missionary Working Party, Stowmarket, for a box of apparel. For Rev. R. Moffat, Kuruman. To Mrs. and Miss Wornell, Oxford, for a box of useful articles, &c. ; to a few Friends at Lavington, for a parcel of useful articles, For Rev. R. B. Taylor, Cradock. To Mrs. F. Smith, Camberwell, for a box of useful articles; and to the Ladies' Missionary Working Society, Marlborough Chapel, for a box of useful articles. For Rev. D. Livingston, Chonuane. To Young Friends at Plaistow, for a parcel of useful articles. For Rev. G. Barker, Paarl. To Young Friends at Abbey-lane Meeting, Saffron Walden, per Mrs. Barnes and Mrs. Pollard, for a box of useful articles, For Rev. T. Paterson, Uitenhage. To Captain Wanchope, Penrith, for a box of books, &c. For Rev. F. W. Wheeler, Jamaica. To the Juvenile Missionary Working Association, Ryde, for a box of useful articles. For Rev. J. Andrews, Jamaica. To Young Ladies at Holywell-mount Chapel, for a box of useful articles. To X. Y. R., for a parcel of apparel. To Mr. F. Williams, Brickbank; to Mr. S. Tite, Lewisham; to Mr. A. Hunter, Gravesend; to Miss Torrington-square; to a Friend; to Mr. R. Farr, Wrestlingworth; to Mrs. T. Griffiths, West Bromwich; to Miss Jackson, Romsey; to Wardour Chapel School; to a Friend at Caistor, per Rev. J. Anderson; to T. Hankey, Esq., London; to Mrs. Dickson, Shrewsbury; to Mr. Greenwood, Shoreditch; to Mrs. Jones, Regent's Park; to Mr. W. Bennet, Bath; to J. B. Sharp, Bayford; to Mr. P. Kevan; to Mr. J. Parker, Morningtoncrescent; to Mrs. Howard, Tottenham; to Mr. J. H. Thurgood; to Mrs. Cox, Peckham; and to the Rev. J. Peggs, Burton-on-Trent, for packages of books, Evangelical Magazines, and other publications. |