my father, and say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son ?' He proceeded to relate at length some circumstances of his life. It was at once seen that he had understood and applied the parable literally. Mr. Pereira preaches three or four times on a Sunday, besides meeting two classes. I have also two Sunday classes to meet, but having read prayers and preached twice on that day, besides meeting the classes, I feel that I am not so strong as formerly, and that my duty is, on that day, to do no more. The congregations, though small, are very attentive, and show a desire to know more about good things. Several members of our Society, who had gone back into the world, have returned again, and continue to meet in class. Our congregations are somewhat increased since last year, excepting at Andiamblama. The number of persons attending at our different services, as well as the number of those services, on the Seedua side of the Circuit, is the same as in the time of my esteemed predecessor. The only exception to this general remark is the congregation at Seedua, which is considerably less than formerly. However, I am happy to state that our last love-feast at Seedua, was, beyond all precedent, good; it was such a meeting as was never had before at Seedua. The presence of God was in the midst; those who related their religious experience, spoke with power; hearts were pierced, and many wept, and felt unutterable things. You have, I think, been told before of our great want of suitable Class-Leaders. Those whose devotion to God is real, undoubted, and even deep, are often very far from being qualified to be the guides, feeders, and guardians of wandering, wavering, weak, unwary sheep of the flock of Christ. This is an onerous part of our duty and care. We have to watch over, while we watch for, souls; we have to care for the "few sheep in the wilder ness," while we go forth, with only a shepherd's bag, a scrip, a sling, a stone," to fight with the giant enemy who dares to defy the armies of the living God." But we attempt these arduous things in faith; we attempt them, trusting that soon "all the earth shall know that there is a God in Israel." Two respectable Burghers, not many weeks ago, requested to be present while one of our native classes was met. On hearing the Christian experience of each member, and the suitable advices given to each, they shed many tears, and thanked God for the wonderful things which he had 66 done among the once entirely heathen inhabitants of this land. The Singhalese prayer-meetings are continued, and some have felt in these means of grace the power of God unto salvation. Pastoral visits have been a pleasing, yet sometimes a painful, part of our duty. We have to "reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine." There are great hinderances to our success in Negombo. Popery is dominant here. But notwithstanding the very strict order of the priests to prevent the faithful from hearing the words of the heretic, I have seen Catholics in the number of my hearers on a Sunday evening in our chapel. Mrs. Bridgnell still continues her Sunday-school, and she has lately commenced also a day-school. The attendance is yet small, but it will not be less than the attendance at the school of the comparatively unqualified and paid mistress. The change will save the Mission several pounds a year, and at the same time be a very considerable advantage to the children. Thousands in this country, who bow their knees to saints without number, never truly, prayerfully, bow their “knees unto the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." "St. Ann cured my eye, my leg, my fever," is a correct, but imperfect, specimen of the language which we hear from this infatuated, priest-ridden people. They seem able to believe anything, but it is certain they do not believ ingly "remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said," "God is a Spirit, and they that worship him, must worship him in Spirit and in truth." However, "the true light now shineth" in this territory of atheism, superstition, and idolatry, and it is gradually being diffused over the whole land. Some who still love darkness rather han light," are yet ashamed of having heir works of darkness" made known to the "children of light," and therefore imitate that headstrong people who "did sccretly those things that were not right against the Lord their God." A family at Mucklangama was visited by the Missionary, who had heard of their preparations for a devil-dance. But on hearing of his approach, they threw all their instruments of magic into a pit, and came to meet him. He informed them of the cause of his visit. "What!" said the man with apparent indignation, "Am I not a Christian! Should I then worship devils in my family! I never did, I never will do this great wickedness, and sin against God.'” He was asked if he did not remember God's omnipresence and omniscience; and he was faithfully warned of No: his danger, by the solemn assurance that "God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.' Nevertheless, several who were formerly avowed idolaters, manifest a seemingly strong and sincere dislike to all worship but the worship of the only true God, and Jesus Christ, in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead. The kingdom of Satan" must decrease; but "of the increase of His government," whom we preach, "there shall be no end." Last month numbers of people went with their yearly offerings to the great Budhist temple at Calany, and with their usual parade and noise. But I have the pleasure to record that not a single soul joined their ranks, or assisted them with money, from the villages of Seedua, Bandarawatte, Amandolua, Mucklan. gama, and, comparatively with former years, very few attended from Radolua, Tenpala, and Kussala. We may therefore surely say, that, in all these places, the effect of our labour is evident; and that, through the influence of our preaching, Budhism is bowing down its head to the ground. May it soon in every place be prostrate and expire! "Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols. Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered, let them that hate him flee before him." Let holy, heavenly, everlasting truth be perseveringly proclaimed, that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. CALTURA. Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Thomas Kilner, dated Caltura, July 17th, 1837. DURING the last quarter I have paid two Sunday visits to the Pantura side of the Circuit, both of which were very interesting. Sunday I left Caltura early, in company with a number of young men, (to whose exertions to diffuse a knowledge of Christianity in this neighbourhood, allusion is made in my last,) for Pantura, Dikbedda, and Wekade. At the first place we preached at nine o'clock to a tolerably good congregation, and yet a very poor one considering that divine service has been held in this village every Sunday for the last fourteen years. In fact, the schoolmaster told me that the congregation was much larger during the first few years after the introduction of our Mission into this part, than it has ever been since that time. A Budhist temple stands on a rock, within a hundred yards of our chapel, and seems to bid defiance to our efforts to displace this, our most formidable foe. The school here has ever been filled with children, who yet crowd the temple when they become men. There is hardly a young man in this village that has not received a religious education in our school, and there is hardly a youth to be found in the chapel on Sundays, unless he is still a scholar. From Pantura we went to Dikbedda, where we found a very large and attentive congregation. This is the place mentioned in my last letter as having been but lately taken on our list. It still continues to give us much encouragement, both as it respects the school and congregation. A foolish man the other day thought that he could extinguish the light which has lately begun to shine upon the darkness of heathenism in this extensive neighbourhood, by setting fire to the school. I was sorry to hear of it, and yet I was somehow gratified at its occurrence, as it afforded the people an occasion of showing their attachment to our cause. The good people of a house situated near the school, seeing the flames bursting from one end of the roof, first gave the alarm, and the sound that the school was on fire, went through the village as fast as air could carry it. Crowds of men, women, and children, flew to the spot, and the fire was put out before it had done much mischief, although a little delay was occasioned by an accident which might have been rather serious, but which, thank God, was not attended with the least harm. A large hollow had been formed, three or four feet deep, and twenty or thirty round, by digging out clay for the walls of the school. A number of men, women, and I believe some children too, forgetting in the hurry of the moment that this obstruction was in their way, all precipitately fell into it, being at the heels of each other, and running as fast as they could; however, the good providence of God amply rewarded their zeal, in not suffering a hair of their head to be injured. The enemy was found out, who was a poor half. witted fellow; and everybody believing that he was but the tool of another, the people begged that I would not bring him to justice. The poor creature came today, and after service asked pardon of the whole congregation, and promised that he never would do so again. A few weeks after this occurred, I was there on one of my fortnight visitations, to preach and examine the school, and was told that during the late high winds, a cocoanut tree fell right across this poor creature's house and broke its back. I told them how sorry I was to hear it; at which they were greatly surprised, they themselves believing, and showing but little reluctance in declaring, that the catastrophe had happened to him as a just punishment for his crime. Their desiring with sincerity only a few days before that his crime might not be followed with that punishment which, by the law of man, his conduct rightly deserved, and their now rejoicing, with equal sincerity, at his offence meeting with what they fully believed to be its due, presents a singular feature in the character of this people. No man under heaven can be more wishful to see an offence forgiven than a Singhalese, when it does not affect him personally, and yet none can feel greater satisfaction and pleasure in witnessing the infliction of what they think to be judicial punishment by an invisible hand. After having finished here we repaired to Wekade, which is about a mile and a half dlstant. The chapel here was comfortably filled, and we had a good time; the singing was delightful. We were now ten miles from Caltura, and it was near five o'clock; however, we reach ed home in time for the evening service. On my second visit to the Pantura side of the Circuit, I was happy in having the assistance of my young men again, whose labours in the singing department have formed so splendid an improvement in our native public services. Our first place was Egodauyane, an extensive village fourteen miles from Caltura, in the direction of Colombo, where we have a pretty little chapel. The chapel and vestry were crowded to excess, and the windows, six in number, together with the large front door, were completely blocked up. My heart throbbed and swelled with gratitude to witness the attention of so large a congregation, and especially to see the exertions made by those outside to look through the windows, each on tiptoe, endeavouring to stretch his neck as long as possible, that he might get a sight of the beauty of the Lord's house, as well as to be better able to hear the glad tidings of salvation. Never, I think, did I feel so exhausted after preaching as I did at the conclusion of this service, though it was but the first of the day. At the end of it I felt as if every nerve in my body was affected. It arose principally from internal exertion, for never in my life did I feel it a more difficult task to preach than on this occasion. My head and heart were free, and thoughts flowed in abundance, but they found a barrier at my mouth, and bounded back from whence they came. Their strugglings to get free were not only in vain, but produced almost a complete prostration of the mental powers. I could have said a thousand things which I have been accustomed to say, but new thoughts required new words, and it was now that I felt my deficiency in Singalese. After service here, we went to Dikbedda, and found the school-room filled with women, and the outside crowded with men. The attention of the congregation to what was said was not only delightful to witness, but was really so steady and fixed, that I could hardly help fancying that I saw their eyes grow larger at every sentence. At all events, I believe that I am not mistaken in supposing that their hearts grew much larger under the gracious influence of the good Spirit of God. The service being over at this place, we turned round to go home. On our way, we had promised to preach at Waduwe, a village six miles from Caltura, near the high road. The school-room was nearly full, but much less attention was paid to the word preached here than at the other places. I could not help observing the very great difference in the physiognomy of my congregation here, and that of the people at Dikbedda, during divine service. Instead of that marked attention which was so pleasing at the former places, and which was enough to make a man eloquent, I saw here the eyes wild and wandering, and observed a vacancy upon the face of nearly all present. However, I tried my best to persuade them to become the disciples of Christ. Even miracles might lead the people of this country to deify the individual who might perform them, but would never lead them to trust for salvation in Him through whom they might be performed. I look more to the power which converts the heart, than that which opens the eyes. We only wait for that great power from on high to make the Singalese as good Christians as any in the world. O that God would send down upon us that heavenly influence, and I am sure the people would be willing in the day of his power. We Te got home at half-past six, in full time for the evening service, which was pretty well attended. We have also paid a Sunday visit to two other places, one eight miles, the other seven, from Caltura, at which we had very pleasing congregations. All our Sunday and week-day services in Caltura and its immediate neighbourhood continue to afford us much encouragement. MATURA.--Extract of a Letter from the Rev. D. J. Gogerly, dated Matura, August 21st, 1837. THE labourers on this Station are Mr. de myself, Mr. de Zylva and Hoe dt, Assistant Missionaries, and Mr. Kem ps and Don Simon, Catechists. Perhaps I cannot give you a better view of the manner of working the Station, than by inserting the reports made to me a short time since by some of those under my superintendence. Mr. de Zylva writes: The following is a brief statement, to show you how I employ myself in the work:-On Sundays I generally preach twice; and often find opportunity to speak with the people of the places where I go to preach. Mondays I generally devote to my own studies; but on Monday evenings I usually take a walk on the high road, to find some passenger to hold conversation with; in this way of proceeding 1 am never disappointed of getting persons to converse with; and I have almost always found that people on occasions like these listen with more attention and good temper when the evil of Budhism, of devil. dancing, and of superstitious ceremonies is told, and when the truths of the word of God are declared, than they do when spoken to on occasions when they are actually engaged in any of these heathenish practices; on such occasions, all our arguments and exhortations are either treated with silent contempt, or sneering; whereas at other times many of the people themselves side with us, repeating foolish tales of their gods, saying 'Such are the gods we worship: they also speak reproachfully of the general character of their Priests, referring to instances they know of. My Monday and Tuesday evenings are employed in this Tuesday is my day for school-visitation, unless prevented by some other engagement. Every Wednesday and Thursday evening, I have to preach, and on one of these days also I visit schools. Friday I regularly devote to catechising the children of the Pommeet the baraney girls'-school, and class, formed of a few of this school. On Friday evenings, too, I have to preach. manner. "During the last quarter of the year, in the rainy season, I had several very favourable opportunities of talking with the people on the constant subject of my conversation, Christ, by my being obliged to take shelter from rains in amblams and bazaars, where the people too must come and necessarily stay a good while. On these days I have endeavoured to awaken the people; and on some of these occasions I thought, (for I had reason to think,) that the Gospel truths I declared made some impression success." Mr. de Hoedt, who resides at Dondra, states: On this side of the Circuit are four schools, namely Pettawatte, Dondra Nos. 1 and 2, and Pategame. "Pettawatte school is not in a flourishing state: the Teacher not being equal to his work, the school is low. The children of the second and third classes have made some progress in the catechism; and a few of them answer questions put to them from it with correctness. The village is inhabited chiefly by people of the washer caste, and, with scarcely one exception, all of them are Budhists. I have visited every house, and spoken to the people, inviting them also to attend the preaching of the word of God. A few seem to see the folly of idol-worship, and signified their desire to embrace Christianity, after mature deliberation; but to attain the knowledge of the great God they do not endeavour. Some instances there are in which I was sadly deceived before I well knew the character of the people indiviThere were a few who, when dually. spoken to concerning the absurdity of idol worship, and their hopes of happiness in the other world, gave me very pleasing answers; but I afterwards found out that they were so cunning as to disclaim idolatry and devilism only before me, merely to evade the conversation, and get rid of me. They continue as rigid Budhists as any in the island. Our congregation there on Sunday averages nearly twenty-five adults, besides children; and on the week-nights we have about twenty adults to preach to: on the Sabbath several women regularly attend. I have spoken to them individually, and tried to impress on their minds the value of their souls, &c., but all in vain : they will worship the gods of the land, in spite of all our reasoning, advice, and entreaties. They are inattentive and careless; and I presume that it is only by the persuasion of the Teacher of the school that they show themselves then. Some of the men seem to pay very great attention to the preaching of the word. One of them told me that he endeavours to act up to the instructions he now receives. The extreme end of the village is inhabited by a low-caste people,-Baravayas; and it is the common rendezvous of men of notorious character, who have select spots of ground for gambling. Here they meet, both old and young. I have seen one upwards of sixty years of age, who I was told has been practising that vice from a child. A few here are industrious, and not so dissipated and wicked as the rest, and some of them are frequently seen in the school at the time of preaching. Dondra No. 1 school is going on well. The attendance of children is pleasing; and they would have made a greater progress were it not for the inefficiency of the Master. The village is inhabited by fishers, a caste proverbial for rudeness and dissipation. The num ber that attends our chapel here is not very small, but they are inattentive and careless, and frequently intoxicated. "Our congregation at Dondra No. 2 is small, but pleasing and promising also. "Pategame is the most pleasing part of our work on this side of the Circuit. The people, though very ignorant, have not that sly cunning as in other parts. Our congregations are numerous, and many hear with avidity. I expect soon to raise a class here. At present the women, who are more attentive and serious than the men, are so bashful and afraid, that they will not speak out what they hear. It is by much persuasion that they utter a few words before us. They endeavour to understand, and begin to lay to heart what they hear. we visited the people in their houses, though some sadly mistook our purpose in going to them, many were happy in our visit." When Thus, in addition to our more immediate work of preaching, class-meetings, and schools, we endeavour by occasional conversations, domiciliary visits, and the distribution of tracts, to spread a knowledge of the truth among the benighted people. POSTSCRIPT. Wesleyan Mission-House, 77, Hatton Garden, London, March 21st, 1838. INCOME OF THE SOCIETY FOR 1837. We are aware that some of the best friends of the Wesleyan Missions have looked with a degree of apprehension to the effects which they deemed it likely that the severe commercial crisis of the past year would be found to have produced upon the finances of this and of other Benevolent Institutions. We rejoice to state, that, in our case, and we hope in that of kindred Societies also, whatever may have been the unavoidably injurious operation of that circumstance on many whose means were for a time diminished, though their love and zeal for the Cause of Christ had suffered no abatement, the good Providence of God has not permitted the general result to be otherwise than encouraging, and indeed highly satisfactory. With heartfelt gratitude we report the following Summary of the Account. 1. The Contributions sent directly to the Misson-House in N. B. This item shows an increase, above the Contribu- £. S. α. 70692 15 1 |