FOR NOVEMBER, 1849. fathers and founders-anticipated, when they laid the foundation of the Anglo-Chinese College in Malacca, shall be realised. Let us have the prayers and the confidence of the THE GOSPEL IN THE TELOOGOO COUNTRY. OUR brethren at Vizagapatam are labouring in season and out of season to plant the standard of Eternal Truth on the ruins of Hindoo Idolatry and Superstition; and the toils of their vocation are neither hopeless nor unrewarded. In the month of December last, Mr. Gordon made an extensive tour among the villages of the surrounding country; and from the record of his labours and observations we take the following details. Though our brother does not adduce any new facts, his statements are important, as reminding us of the perfect freedom enjoyed by the Christian Missionary in India; the willingness, and oftentimes the eagerness, of the people to listen to his words; the decline or the futility of Brahminical opposition; and the consequent obligations resting on the Churches to extend the truth of Christ until the light it sheds, and the hope it inspires, supplant in every soul the darkness and despair of idolatry. From the remarks of Mr. Gordon, we also find renewed reason to believe that, among the multitudes of every Caste who received the message of life from his lips, there are not a few whom it has won to God, and who, but for the fear of persecution and the well-known sacrifices of Christian candour, would cast off their hidden discipleship and at once declare themselves on the Lord's side. May He who has brought them, by his transforming power, near to the kingdom of God, give them grace to count all things but loss that they may glorify their Divine Master as living epistles known and read of all men ! The Heathen listening to the Truth. Dec. 6th & 7th.-I remained these two days in the large and important village of Jami. The people are chiefly weavers, and a large quantity of cloth is manufactured in the place. They manifested great willingness to hear the Gospel, and remained near the tent for that purpose from about ten in the morning until nearly six in the evening. I was engaged, with but little intermission, on the first day, in declaring to them "the unsearchable riches of Christ ;" and it was truly delightful to witness the pleasure with which they listened to the message. They asked many sensible and important questions, and received a considerable number of Scriptures and tracts. One of my hearers was a very intelligent Brahmin, who became acquainted with the Gospel many years ago, and who had not forgotten its leading doctrines. I found him very kind and attentive, and I could discover no sinister motive for his conduct. On the morning of the second day, I was invited by one of my hearers of the day preceding to come to his house and preach to the people. On proceeding thither, he gave me a mat to sit on, and, in a few moments, was surrounded by many people, to whom I preached for a long time. I was much pleased to find that a person, to whom I had given a copy of Luke, had ordered a box to be made to keep it in this showed that he set a value on the book, which, I trust, may some day result in the salvation of his soul. The population of this village amounts to some thousands, and it well deserves the attention of a devoted Missionary. There appears to be a great desire on the part of the people to hear the message of salvation, and I hope soon to visit the place again. The Power of Heathen Habits. Dec. 8th.-Arrived at Alamundah by seven o'clock---had a pleasant ride from Jami-the country is pretty, and the cultivation very rich. This is a large village, and contains a good many families of weavers, as at the place visited yesterday. I had several people to visit me in the cool mangoe-grove where I had taken up my abode for the day, and they listened with deep interest and attention to the message of life which was delivered to them. One young man, in the middle of the village, who had heard about Christ, asked me "If it was sinful for a man to commit theft, provided it was done to sustain life?" Another individual asked, If he could not believe in Jesus Christ and forsake idols, and yet remain with his family and heathen relations? This led to a long conversation on the character of the Christian Religion, and the claims of God upon its followers. I told him, that, if he was a true believer, he would wish to come out from amongst his people, and give up the very appearance of evil, according to the commands of Christ. "Very true," he replied, "the Christian Religion must be the true one, but we cannot give up our old customs; and that is what prevents our embracing this new way." This remark led to a lengthened conversation about the paramount claims of God and the soul over all earthly considerations, and ended in my telling him that he must not forfeit the salvation of his soul for any. thing that earth "calls good or great." Dec. 10th.-I felt my patience much tried this day at Cullapilly, by the conduct of a strong opponent, in the person of a Brahmin, who tried to set at nought everything I said about Christ and heathenism. This man frequently tried to prevent the bystanders from listening to the truth. A few listened attentively during the day, but they were of the poorer sort, who, though despised of the Brahmins, may find mercy of the Lord "in that day." In the evening I had a quiet conversation with three or four respectable people on the claims of Christianity: they accepted books and tracts with apparent gratitude. Erroneous Views of the Divine Character. Dec. 11th.-Arrived at Codoor at the usual time. In the centre of the village I saw a place dedicated to the god Rama, where his praises are sung every day. I stood for a while in this sacred place, and enjoyed a very favourable season in declaring to them the love of One infinitely better than Rama, even the Lord Jesus Christ, who died to save men from their sins. One man said, in speaking of the purity of God's character, that "God could do as He likes-He could either commit sin or practise virtue ;" and, with a view to the illus. tration of his point, he asked:-"Can the Government Agent not do as he likes?" "Why," said I, "certainly not in every matter; for instance, if he were to take a stick and break your head, would that be right, would that be lawful, and could you approve of such an action?" The man was obliged to confess that it would not be right-though the Government Agent was a man of considerable authority, and certainly had much power vested in him, he could not act unjustly without exposing himself to the penalty of the law. "Then," said I, God cannot act unjustly, though he be God." In the forenoon I again repaired to the place I visited in the morning, and preached to a large number of people, who convened under the pandall of Rama's temple; and two other opportunities were embraced, dur ing the day, of declaring to the people the glad tidings of salvation through a Saviour Crucified. The Gospel in the Villages of India. Dec. 12th.-Cotapadoo. This place is not more than two miles from the last village. In addition to two or three opportunities of meeting with the people in the village, I had the pleasure of addressing a large crowd in the afternoon, at the market which is held here once a week. All heard gladly. Dec. 13th.-Arli. This is an old, dilapidated village, and the people seem as wild as their cattle: they were very shy, and unwilling that we should speak to them at all. I saw close to this village two fine specimens of the banyan-tree, said to be a hundred years old: under one of these magnificent trees there was an old temple, dedicated to the goddess of the village. In the afternoon of the day, the people seemed a little more free and friendly. I had a good opportunity of speaking to them on the subject of religion. They heard attentively, and a few received tracts. Some of the people asked the most curious questions, such as "Why I had a pony, instead of a large horse?" and "Whether English people would let them come to England?" Dec. 14th.-Sahavaram. There is a pub lic bungalow here, as it is on the high road between Cassimcottah and Vizianagram. The village is very small, and there are not many who can read. Among the few that heard the Word to-day, was one ignorant Brahmin, who said that the worship of images was ordered by the true God, and that Brahmins, as well as the other Castes, worshipped them. I saw the Samooldar of the village, who has had frequent opportunities of hearing the truth from the lips of Missionaries. May it be blessed to his soul! INTELLIGENCE FROM THE REV J. J. FREEMAN. Ir will gratify all our friends to receive the following communication from our brother Mr. FREEMAN, containing a very interesting sketch of his journey from Cape Town to the Missionary Institution of Hankey. Addressing the Foreign Secretary, under date June 30, he thus writes : MY DEAR BROTHER,-My last letter to you, dated May 14, was written just on the eve of commencing my journey into the interior. Six weeks have rolled away, and I now find myself at the Institution of Hankey, having visited Zuurbraak, Pacaltsdorp, Dysalsdorp, Avontuur, and Kruis Fontein, on the way. I reached Hankey on the 25th, and expect to leave July 2, for Bethelsdorp, whither I proceed on horseback, in company with Mr. T. D. Philip. It is but sixty miles from this place. I intend going forward thence, in the course of a day or two, to Port Elizabeth, where I have much business before me. I intend remaining there about a week, and then returning to Bethelsdorp for the 15th of July. I must contrive to pay a brief visit to Theopolis, where old Mr. Sass is still residing. I intend to spend the 22nd at Uitenhage, and the 29th at Graham's Town, from whence my next visit will be to the Kat River Settlement, now called Stockenstrom. This will take up a good part of August, and I apprehend that Caffreland will consume September. At any rate, I scarcely hope to be fairly on my way to Graaff Reinet, Somerset, and Cradock, before the end of September. Beyond that I can at present fix no dates, but Colesberg and Philippolis must then follow in course. So that, by the time this letter reaches you, I shall probably be either at Graaff Reinet or Colesberg. I have thus a long, long journey before me; and after the experience of a few years in England, amidst the luxuries of railway travelling, it is really a trial of patience to sit jolting along in an ox-waggon, in which three miles an hour is considered capital progress. I am thankful, however, to say that no accident—not the least--has befallen me. A kind Providence has watched every step, so that neither myself nor my attendants have suffered harm. Our oxen and our vehicle have reached thus far uninjured. The only wear and tear yet observable is, as might have been expected, in the waggon-wheels and drags, but these I am getting repaired by a native smith, and of Swedish iron, too-some little proof of the march of civilization and of the intercourse of nations, that an Englishman can get, amidst the mountains and glens of South Africa, his waggon-wheels repaired by a Hottentot smith, from the capital iron made in the forests of Sweden. Our weather has been delightful. We have not had a shower of rain! The nights have been generally cool-sometimes really cold. The days have been warm and delightful, resembling the May and June of our favourite England. Early this morning the thermometer stood at 32. It is now (at eleven o'clock) 66 in the shade, between 90 and 100 in the sun. The air is fresh and invigorating. The scenery has great variety. For some long distances it is extremely uninteresting, consisting mainly of a succession of hills, rocks, and mountains, with scarcely any soil or verdure--then again valleys, ravines, and glens, many of them highly luxuriant and beautiful—then extensive plains, with low shrubs and stunted grass-then rough, stony and rocky places, steep descents, beds of mountain torrents, streamlets, and, occasionally, rivers; all, however, at this season of the year, rather low and easily fordable. In the circumstances of our Institutions I have everywhere found much to interest and gratify--much to reward the Society and its friends for their years of toil and sacrifice-much to refute the calumnies of the enemies of Missions--much to encourage the patient efforts of our present Missionaries, and yet much also that admits of improvement. The Apostolic exhortation must still be applied here, "Be not weary in well doing;" while I doubt not the cheering promise will be yet far more largely realised, "In due season ye shall reap if you faint not." The exhortation is specially and forcibly applicable to the people of our Institutions. So much has been done for them, and the contrast between their former and present condition is so great and so manifest, that they are in danger of becoming satisfied too soon and resting in their present stage of advancement, as though it embraced all that was essential or desirable. The great ends, however, of our labour are being gained the people are industrious, taken as a whole --multitudes of them are highly improved, sober, moral, and correct in all their deportment-very many are truly pious, and walk in all godliness as well as honesty. I have been much delighted with the spirit and character of many of the people. They adorn their profession, and are blessings in the midst of their communities. I find it impossible to give you details of my visits. In travelling, one can neither read nor write. The jolting forbids it, and at night, after the day's shaking is over, every bone and muscle in one's body seems to demand repose. I am anxious to hear all about the May Meetings. I have no hope of being present at those of 1850. My kindest remembrances to Mr. Prout and to all the Directors, and your own family, and believe me Ever, my dear Brother, most cordially yours, ORDINATION IN INDIA. J. J. FREEMAN, (Communicated by the Rev. J. S. Wardlaw). On the 19th July, Enoch Paul, Catechist, was set apart to the pastoral care of the Tamil Church and Congregation at Bellary, in connexion with the London Missionary Society. On this important and interesting occasion, the Rev. W. H. Drew, of Madras, delivered the Charge, which was founded on the words of the Apostle to Timothy: "Take heed to thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them; for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee." On the morning of the following Lord's Day, the Rev. John Shrieves addressed the Church on the duties which they owed to their Pastor and to one another, from the words, 1 Thess. v. 12, 13: "We beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake; and be at peace among yourselves." It may be mentioned, that Enoch Paul had previously laboured at Bellary as an Evangelist for about two years; during which time he proved himself a "a workman needing not to be ashamed," preaching Christ faithfully and earnestly, and not without some measure of success. The sphere of labour to which he has been appointed is one of much interest. The Tamil Church at Bellary is one of the earliest formed in connexion with the London Missionary Society in India, and was, for many years, under the pastoral charge of the late lamented Samuel Flavel, through whose instrumentality the larger number of its members were brought "from darkness to light," and by whom they were watched over as by one who felt that he must "give account." May our brother, who is now the successor in office of that esteemed and honoured servant of Christ, prove, equally with him, the instrument of abundant good in gathering many wanderers to the fold of the Great Shepherd, and in building up in their most holy faith those who have already through grace believed MISSIONARY CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE POOR. WE have great pleasure in presenting the following recent instances of Christian liberality towards the Missionary cause. Such generous and self-denying efforts among the humbler classes of society deserve to be made known; and we are persuaded their influence will not be lost on our more affluent friends:- DEAR SIR,-I have received for transmission to our Treasurer, Thomas Barker, Esq., of Wolverhampton, the sum of 157., collected at Cannock for the London Missionary Society. The greater part of this amount is the hard-earned money of the industrious poor, A poor, but honest man came to me, just before our Anniversary, to tell me that he had saved something for Missions; adding, as he looked at the sleeves of his coat, "I am afraid I shall not be able to save much next year, for I must have new clothes." On my suggesting to him, that perhaps he had better keep half his savings for next year, he replied, "No: I'll give all. Next year I may be dead. I've been gleaning," he continued, "in the 6th field of Matthew, and the 12th field of Luke; and here are my gleanings." He then placed in my hands the sum of three pounds and one shilling. It would be well, Sir, if all of us read our Bibles thus practically; and the insertion of such an example in the Missionary Magazine might lead others to go and do likewise. Yours truly, Rev. Arthur Tidman. DANIEL GRIFFITHS, Independent Minister. DEAR SIR,-I was much gratified at the result of a systematic plan of contribution to the cause of Christ, which I witnessed at an Independent Church in It is a church consisting of the very poorest of the industrial classes. They raised this year the sum of thirtytwo pounds in weekly subscriptions of one penny and a halfpenny. The only large sum given was five shillings. Further, the Sabbath-school Children (exceedingly poor as they are) collected the sum of Ten Pounds; and the annual collection of the congregation amounted to Six Pounds. This latter sum was made up of fourpenny pieces and copper money, with the exception of about 158. in sixpences and shillings. From the above case we cannot fail to observe 1. The diffusion of a Missionary spirit through the congregation. More than one hun dred members must have systematically subscribed. Who can tell the amount of spiritual good received by those members, in the very act of devoting part of their weekly returns to the service of Christ. What a weekly reminiscence of their obligations! What a weekly expression of sympathy with the condition of the heathen world! What a literal fulfilment of the scriptural injunction, 1 Cor. xvi. 2! Forty-two pounds had been collected before the Deputation of the Missionary Society came to them; and, even had no one visited them as a Deputation, yet their collections were forthcoming. 2. We observe what large sums may be raised, without expense to the Society, by these Small Weekly Contributions. If this plan were carried out generally, the sum realised by it would be immense; and I do trust, my dear Sir, that this individual case may serve as an encouragement to poor churches, and an example to rich ones. Yours, &c. Rev. E. Prout. A MISSIONARY. ARRIVAL OF THE REV. W. THOMPSON. ON Monday, October 8th, the Rev. W. Thompson arrived in London from Cape Town; where, from the time of his arrival from India to the date of his departure for this country, he laboured with much acceptance as Pastor of the English Church and Congregation assembling at Union Chapel. REV. JOHN GIBSON. MR. GIBSON, who arrived from Jamaica in the month of August last, has embarked with his wife and family for Port Philip, South Australia, with a view of exercising his ministry in that colony. In closing their official connexion with him, the Directors bear their willing testimony to his Christian character, and offer their best wishes for his future happiness and prosperity. |