you call them, how are they holy? they are dedicated to men of like passions with ourselves, and many of their lives will not at all bear investigating. Doubtless it is highly proper and benevolent to distribute Alms; but, if no one can enjoy blessedness but those who are charitable in this sense, how many thousands of men must for ever remain destitute of it, who have nothing to give!" "Oh," said the Pundit, "You cannot, of course, expect to reap any good from a perusal of the Shaster having forsaken the good customs of your forefathers for a new unheard-of way, You can never expect any good." Most of the bye-standers seemed delighted with their old Pundit, and began to praise his great wisdom; turning to each other, and exclaiming, "How good! how fine!" At last, a meek-looking Mahajun (Shopkeeper) exclaimed, 66 Suppose we hear what the Man has to say?" The Pundit consented. "I will tell you, then," said I, "what alone is good, and the chief good to man-to believe in the Holy Saviour." "What do you mean by that?" "I mean the Lord Jesus Christ." "Oh, if you call him the Holy Saviour, why are not Ram and Ganesa just as good? Christ was a great man, and so were they!" "I will tell you, and shew you in what they differ. Ram and Ganesa were mere men of this world; worldly in all their pursuits : all their actions were to gain for themselves a great name : as warriors, they conquered countries, and amassed great wealth, and were cruel. Jesus proved himself Divine by his pure and holy works, by his miracles of love and mercy, and by the gracious words which he spoke." Thus I endeavoured to preach unto them the Gospel. Having the subject on which I had been writing fully in my mind, I said, "His enemy being His judge, openly declared, I find no fault in him! What a testimony! Had it been that of a Friend, we might have suspected it; but, behold, his Enemy speaks! Bring hither your Ram and your Ganesa, and I will bring my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Let us compare them: and then, if Ram be God, serve him; but if Jesus Christ be God, then serve Him!" The old Pundit was swallowed up with rage. Brother. On these occasions I go as a man approaches to catch a strong and wary bird. I found him reading one of their books, in which there is a wonderfully fine story of a woman, who had a pair of bracelets made of the gum of a certain tree: she went to bathe in the Ganges, and was transported to heaven; and, so great was the virtue of the Sacred Stream, that the insects attached to the gum went thither also! "Ah, Brother," said I, "the waters of Gunga are very good to clean your body and wash your cooking things; but what possible good can they do to your spirit? Will the Judge quit an apprehended thief or murderer, because you have washed him in the Ganges? Take this poor wretch to the Judge Sahib, and say, 'You cannot condemn him: he has been washed in Gunga.' Will he obey you? How, then, will the Eternal Judge pronounce you clean, when you have only washed your body in the Gunga?" Examined Anund's Sermon on Rom. v. 1. We conversed on the great docshew him how it seems to include far trine of Justification. I endeavoured to more than mere pardon; viz. a title to eternal happiness in heaven-" A Judge or King may pardon a criminal, but this will not entitle him to sit with the King on his throne; neither does it entitle him to any reward, as if he had fulfilled every duty." Anund seemed to understand and feel this. He then gave me the following narrative I went out, the other day, to a pleasant ground to the westward. It is a very faspot about a mile from the city, on that rising vourite place with the Natives; to which they are in the habit of continually resorting, in a cool day, to enjoy the fresh breeze. As I drew near, I saw assembled a vast number of people; and, in the midst of them, a very respectable man, who is in the service of the Hon. Company, and receives 250 rs. a-month: he was surrounded by numerous friends and attendants. As I approached closer, one man sneeringly exclaimed-"Here comes Eessa Messeeh!" 66 Nay," said another, correctI gave Anund for his next subject the ing him, "his name is Anund Messeeh." I "Thief on the Cross," directing his made my salaam, and sat down; and we enmind to the chief points. The sun was tered into conversation. They asked me very powerful to-day, the wind blowing why I had rejected my caste, by eating and drinking with the Sahib-Logs. "Could you not have retained all your ancient customs: and so, while you indulged your own fancies, kept your friends? You might have obeyed your Christ in your heart, if you liked; and no one could have known or would have cared." This led to a long conversation about meats and drinks, which cannot defile the soul. I endeavoured to convince them of this; and to justify my hope and conduct, while I pointed out the folly and worthlessness of theirs. A great deal was said more than I can repeat, for our discussion lasted till the evening. among them exclaimed, "See, he has not As we rose to depart, one only disappointed us, who expected him to be left without an answer; but, to our amaze hot and violent; so that when Anund reached my house, he seemed quite exhausted. After sitting awhile, he claimed ex Ah! Sir! your room to me, after passing through the burning sun, is just what Jesus Christ and His Gospel are to poor sinners-a shadow from the heat-a refuge! He added, with much seriousnessIf this heat distress me thus, what must be the fire of hell! Examined Anund's last Sermon, on 1 Cor. xiv. 1. Follow after Charity. He then said I went, this morning, to see my Wife's ment, he has left us without the power of reply. How wisely have the Sahib-Logs given him his name-Anund Messeeh (Joyful in Christ). Behold, he is joyful!" We returned together to the city, walking and talking with great cordiality. I carried my BOOK under my arm; and I humbly and joyfully thought of my Blessed Lord, when he came down from the mount and great multitudes followed Him. Mr. H. Fisher adds We read together the Second Chapter to the Ephesians; being led to it by some remarks which he made on his past life-the deep grief which the remembrance thereof always occasioned-and the heaviness of the yoke which he bore when an idolator. He spoke most beautifully and feelingly on the contrast between his sins and the free mercies of Jesus Christ. Recent Miscellaneous Entelligence. UNITED KINGDOM. London Miss. Soc.-The Rev. Evan Evans, late Missionary at the Paarl, South Africa, who had returned home (see p. 41) for the benefit of his health, died at Llanidloes, Montgomeryshire, on the 29th of January, about 36 years of age: leaving a widow and four children: it is stated Mr. Evans embarked, with Mrs. Evans, for Africa, in the decline of 1816, He laboured for some time at Bethelsdorp, but the people at the Paarl having earnestly solicited a Missionary, he remov ed to the Paarl in November 1819; and continued his labours at that place and in the surrounding country, with a considerable measure of encou ragement and success, highly esteemed and beloved by the people, until the summer of 1826, when the disorder which has brought him to an early grave began to assume a serious form. Mrs. Jane Smith, widow of the late Rev. John Smith, Missionary at Le Resouvenir, in Demerara, in whose trials she deeply participated, died in peace and joy, at the house of a friend at Rye, in Sussex, on the 10th of February, in her 34th year. WESTERN AFRICA. Church Miss. Soc.-On the arrival of the Rev. Messrs. Betts and Gerber with Mr. Boston and Mr. Heighway, arrangements were made, at Special Meetings held on the 19th and 20th of December, for the most effectual application of their labours to the benefit of the Colony; Colonel Denham acquiescing in the appointments proposed. Mr. Gerber was to divide the Ministerial Duties of the River District with Mr. Metzger, before stationed there. Mr. Boston was to act as Catechist, under Mr. Davey already in Ministerial Charge of the Mountain District. Mr. Betts was to proceed to Kent, in charge, as Minister, of the Sea District; and Mr. and Mrs. Heighway to York, in the same District -Mr. Heighway to act as Catechist, and Mrs. Heighway as Mistress of the Girls' Schools: the Rev. J. G. Wilhelm, the Society's Senior Missionary, was to be liberated, on account of his infirmities, from the charge of the Sea District to which he had lately removed; and was to settle in Freetown, in care of the Native Congregation at Gibraltar Town, while he would render such help to the Occasional Duties of Freetown as his health might allow. The Rev. Messrs. Davey and Haensel were to preach alternately on Sunday Mornings at Freetown. It will have been seen from the Obituary of Mr. Heighway, in an early part of this Number, that he had but just reached his Station when he was called away from his labours-The health of Mrs. Weeks was in such a state, at the last dates, that her return home seemed inevitable. Fernando Po-Captain Owen, under date of the 16th of November, sends to the Rev. Thomas Davey the following brief, but very interesting notices, of the New Settlement which he is forming on this Island This is the sixteenth day since we began clearing our Establishment at Clarence. The situation is delightful; so far as we can judge. The Natives are very well behaved, but shew great anxiety after iron. We cannot pick up a word of their language, except the numerals: they have a religion of some kind; and commence the day with prayer, or some noise, made by a priest or fetiche-man. Every foot of ground is forests. We have sometimes about 2000-men, women, and children-with us. I have written home for ny wife to come out, as we cannot contemplate any difficulty; but meet with an excess of good will, with great timidity. Their number and good discipline, however, render them formidable; but fire-arms are their dread. God's providence and mercy have attended us hitherto : we have had continual rains, and none sick. The quantity of food, in yams and palm wine, in over. flowing abundance. It is a fine field for Missions. Mr. Davey writes from Sierra Leone, on the 12th of January The accounts from Fernando Po are very encou raging. Another vessel has just arrived from thence: it is spoken of as being very healthy, up to the time of that vessel's leaving in December. Many additional artificers and labourers are about to go down. Orders have been received to make a very great reduction in the Military Department of this Colony, which has already commenced. MEDITERRANEAN. Church. Miss. Soc.- From Syra (see p.61) the Rev. John Hartley visited Tino; and thence proceeded to the Island of Egina, the present seat of the Greek Government. Dr. Korck joined him there, in the early part of January. Opportunities of usefulness among the Greeks were opening before them-The severe illness of the Rev. Christian Kugler, at Caïro, was mentioned at p. 63 in September, he proceeded to Alexandria. Mr. Mueller reached Cairo on the 25th of that month, on his return from Syria. Mr. and Mrs. Krusé and Mr. Lieder joined Mr. Kugler at Alexandria in November. Mrs. Krusé was not in good health; and Mr. Gobat, who remained with Mr. Mueller at Caïro, was suffering from ophthalmia. American Board-Mr. Brewer's visit, with Mr. Hartley, to the Greek Islands was noticed at p. 58. Mr. Gridley had, in June, entered on a journey from Smyrna, with the view of spending the summer in Cappadocia. Mr. Brewer wrote to him to apprise him of the altered state of public affairs, and to advise his immediate return of his journey it is said His leading objects were-to acquire the Turkish Language, which is spoken by perhaps half the Greek population of Turkey-and to ascertain, as far as possible, the State of Education among the Greeks, and the nature of the School-books which were needed, and could be most readily introduced. His journey to Cappadocia occupied 21 days, and he proposed to remain until the autumn; and thought it possible that he might return by way of Sebar, Tokat, Angora, and Constantinople. INDIA WITHIN THE GANGES. Church Miss. Soc.- The Rev. John Steward (p. 104) arrived at Calcutta; and visited Burdwan, where it was intended (see p. 90) that he should supply the place of Mr. Perowne; but, his strength not appearing adequate to the active labours required at that Station, he was to proceed to Madras to assist Mr. Sawyer-The Rev. John Latham and Mrs. Latham landed at Calcutta, in good health, on the 28th of October: at p. 95 we stated Mr. Latham's appointment to Benares; but his designation was, in the first instance, to Calcutta; though it is probable that Mr. Adlington's state of debility may lead the Auxiliary Committee to fix Mr. Latham at Benares. Two other Missionaries, however, the Rev. Ralph Eteson and the Rev. Charles Friend, are on the point of sailing for Calcutta, in order to proceed to Benares-The Rev. T. Norton and his family (see p. 118) landed at Madras on the 5th of August; and were detained there upward of two months, for want of a conveyance to Allepie-The Rev. P. P. Schaffter arrived at Madras on the 30th of September; and proceeded, early in October, to join Mr. Bärenbruck at Mayaveram-the Rev. J. C. T. Winckler removed, with his family in August, from Palamcottah to Tutecoryn: see p. 110. CEYLON. Church Miss. Soc.-Mr. and Mrs. Faught and Miss Stratford (see p. 118) landed at Trincomalee on the 2d of August, and were to proceed over land to Colombo. NEW ZEALAND. Church Miss. Soc.-In the beginning of No vember, the Labourers were in good health and the Natives friendly. Mr. Richard Davis had visited Port Jackson in the Society's Schooner, the Herald. On the 6th of November, there were 11 Male Europeans and 9 Female labouring in the Mission; who had 27 Male and 13 Female Children: there were, at that date, 111 Native Scholars; 75 Male and 36 Female. UNITED STATES. Presbyterian Church-It appears from the Minutes of the last Session of the General Assembly, that there are now connected with that Body, 16 Synods, 89 Presbyteries, 1214 Ministers, 218 Licentiates, 229 Candidates for the Ministry, 1887 Churches, and 135,286 Communicants, of whom 12,938 were received the last year-Adult Baptisms during the year, 2965; infants baptized, 10,229: total 13,194. Colleges-We extract from an American Publication the following Table of the number of Graduates, at several of the principal Colleges, in five successive years Columbia College 29 22 21 24 34 36 47 38 29 28 19 Princeton College 448 488 488 517 Miscellanies. A SCHOLAR OF THE NATIVE-FEMALE SCHOOLS IN CALCUTTA. (With an Engraving.) THE accompanying Engraving is taken from a Portrait of one of the Scholars attending the Schools in Calcutta; she is represented in the Native-Female Dress, which is called 66 a Sarrie:" the Sarrie is a long piece of white muslin, folded round the body and thrown over the head and shoulders. The book in her right-hand shews that she is a scholar: the sight of a girl with a book in her hand, however common in England, was till lately very unusual in India. holds one of the work-bags sent out by Ladies in England as rewards for the best. In her left-hand she behaved Girls. |