Religious Miscellany, No. 14. "Say ye to the daughter of Zion, behold, thy salvation cometh.” MISSIONARY. An Abstract from the London Missionary Register, for January, 1824. SURVEY Of Protestant Missionary Stations throughout the world, in their Geographical order. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 66 Vol. III. while the favor and countenance of men in power, both in Christian and in Heathen lands, have been, in numerous instances, conciliated to these exertions, either from a conviction of duty or of their beneficent influence. While Missionaries are complaining that they have so few striking inIt may serve to awaken the grati-stances of the power of Divine Grace tude and animate the exertions of true to record in the communications to Christians, to take, on this occasion, a their respective Societies, it is highly view of THE NATURE AND MEASURE probable that their influence is much of the progress which has been al- more extensive, and the change carryready made in this great cause. ing on by them much greater, than The sum, now annually raised, is they themselves imagine. In those become magnificent, as contrasted countries where Missions have gained with the penury of former years, tho' a marked ascendency, there is scarceit is still little, very little, as compar-ly one spot, however much secluded, ed with that which could be effectually impervious to their all-pervading light employed, and with what it will be- and heat. Even while they are gross come when Christians shall be fullyly misrepresented and spoken against, roused to the discharge of that debt, they are checking the undue influence of gratitude and obedience which they of power-raising the standard of moowe to Him who is their Redeemer rals--literally proclaiming liberty to and Lord, and of pity and love which the captives, and opening the prison they owe to their perishing fellow-doors to those that are bound-diffuscreatures: still it is very encouraging ing abroad the light of science and litto be able to state, that the Missionary, Jews', and Bible Societies of the United Kingdom and the American States, independently of similar bodies in other quarters, and of all Education and Tract Societies, receive at present sums which amount to upward of ONE THOUSAND POUNDS PER DAY. Tens of thousands of sincere converts have been made from among the heathen; numbers of whom have died in the faith, and multitudes are now manifesting all the benign and blessed influence of Christianity-not a few of whom are sustaining the character of competent native teachers, and thus awaken reasonable hopes of the approach of that day when the work shall be carried on with a degree of rapidity and effect hitherto unknown: erature-undermining the false systems of religion against which they have to contend-multiplying those charitable institutions which have for their object the relief of suffering humanity--vanquishing infidelity by the most direct and powerful of all arguments, by living exhibitions of the truths of Christianity-changing the face of our colonies--and accelerating the approach of that moral revolution, which will sooner or later usher in the kingdoms of the world as the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ." WESTERN AFRICA. We extract the following passage on this subject from the twenty-third Report of the Church Miss. Society: "It is with great pain that the Com 210 Survey of Missionary Stations throughout the World. that Lemon Island, about 500 miles from St. Mary's, was thought to be the most favorable place for the New Settlement, which has accordingly been formed. In consequence of the population it will attract, and the intercourse with the Natives which it will command, Mr. Morgan recommends the appointment of a Missionary.' Another Missionary is about to sail. The New Station will be occupied, in preference to Mandanaree, which was suspended on account of Mr. Morgan's ill health. At Bathurst he has a Native Congregation, a Society of 24 Natives, and a School. mittee witness the continuance, under even aggravated circumstances, of the Traffic in Human Beings, which is the curse of these devoted shores. There is, however, no relaxation on the part of the conscientious and humane, not only in the United Kingdom and the American States, but in other countries, to put an end forever to this opprobrium of the civilized world. The rising Commonwealths of the New World are not only exterminating the odious traffic, but they are preventing the possibility of its revival,by making provision for annihilating the state of Slavery within their respective territories. In France even, at present the Nation most eminently guilty, the voice of justice and truth is beginning to make itself heard; while the friends of humanity in our own country are pursuing with determined perseverance, in co-operation with the Legislature, the great object of a final and total Abolition. The continuance, indeed, of the Trade, is Both the chaplains, Mr. Flood and not, through the merciful overruling Mr. Palmer, have been carried offof the Almighty Hand, without some Mr. Flood at sea, on his return to Engcountervailing alleviations, as the vic-land; and Mr. Palmer, who had arrivtims of this traffic are still rescued ined but on the 20th of March, died on considerable numbers, and placed under Christian instruction." SIERRA LEONE. Our last volume contained many particulars of the severe visitation of sickness which befel this Colony. Most of the deaths, however, appear to have been the result, not of the fever of the climate, but of the Yellow Fever. the 8th of May; followed by his widow on the 6th of June. The Chief Justice had died on the 3d of that month. Other officers of the Colony, both civil and military, fell victims to the disease. His Excellency the Governor, writes to the Church Missionary Society, from Freetown, under date of September 13, 1823 and His Majesty may require my preI shall, as long as I have my health, sence on the coast, promote to the utmost of my power, the religious instruction of this part of his dominions; and more particularly so, of the Liberated Africans, who, from the forlorn condition in which they are landed, more particularly call for assistance." Every exertion is making by the Society to supply the want of service occasioned by the sickness and death of the laborers. Survey of the Missionary Stations throughout the World. 211 It is a great alleviation to the afflictive dispensation of which we have spoken, that the Laborers who died, departed in the lively hope of eternal rest. to the improvement of the Liberated Africans. We will add Mr. During's. 'Most of those with whom I live, I have seen bro't from the holds of Slave Ships. I have seen them rise from In the midst of its trials the Colo- the chains of the Slave Dealer, to beny makes steady advances. The late come industrious men and women, Chief Justice remarked with exulta-faithful subjects, pious Christians, aftion, at a Quarter Sessions, a little time before he died fectionate husbands and wives, tender fathers and mothers, and peaceable "That, ten years ago, when the pop-neighbors.' ulation of the Colony was only 4000, We shall add another passage from there were forty cases on the Calen- the Report, and then proceed to our der for trial; and now that the popu-survey of the different Stations. lation was upward of 16,000, there were only six cases on the Calender: he congratulated the Magistrates and Grand Jury on the moral improvement of the Colony. There was not a single case from any of the villages under the superintendance of a Missionary or Schoolmaster!" The same lamented Judge adduced, in a letter to the Secretary of the Church Missionary Society, the advantageous employment of Liberated Africans as Jurors, in proof of the great and rapid improvement which they had made. BIBLE SOCIETY. "The increasing interest in the objects of the Society was manifested at the third Anniversary of the Church Missionary Association; when it appeared that the sum of 281£ 5s. 3d. had been contributed the preceding year, of which more than half was given by the Liberated Africans; making a total raised by the Association of 636£. 18. 0 1-2ď.' FREETOWN. the Parish of St. George--Inhabitants, The chief town in the Colony-in exclusive of the Military, at the re turn in Jan. 1822, were 5643. CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Personal visitation had been so inPhilip Vaughan, John Pope, Schooldustriously pursued, that 7554 indi-masters-Mrs. Schemel and Mrs. Pope, viduals in different parts of the Colony Schoolmistresses-G. Fox, Mrs. Fox, had been visited. Native Assistants. CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. The Laborers under the Society are reduced, by sickness and death, to 21 Europeans. These are assisted by 17 Natives. To the Native Teachers before employed by the Society, have been added several young men, brought up in the Christian Institution, together with their wives; and also Mark Joseph Tamba, at Gloucester. In the view of losses by death, Mr. Vaughan thus feelingly expresses himself 'No language can express my feelings, when I look first in my own house for my dear wife-but alas, she is not; then in the Schools, for my brother Bunyer and l:is wife-but they too, are gone! I then look in the Church for dear brother Palmer and his wife--they also have left me; and am the only living monument of God's mercy out of six.' The state and progress of the Mis-I sion may be judged of by the fact, that at Easter of last year, there were at the different Stations, 680 Native Communicants and 3523 Scholars. We have quoted some testimonies It is remarked in the report- 'In 1822, there was not less than 715 Scholars on the Books-300 Boys, 212 Girls, and 203 Adults. Of these 4 212 Survey of the Missionary Stations throughout the World. there had been discharged, 45 Boys, 74 Girls, and 118 Adults; leaving 255 Boys, 188 Girls, and 85 Adults. The average attendants had been 166 Boys, 56 Girls, and 56 Adults.' WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Mr. Huddlestone died happy in the Faith, on the 20th of July. I have no wish to live,' he said, 'but to preach to the people; but the Lord will do all things well.' The Committee remarkThus the mission is left entirely destitute, and four chapels and their Congregations without supply, at a period when the state of the work have assumed a promising aspect. The members are 118. The Missionaries, Messrs. Pigott and Harte, have been appointed, and are about to proceed to the Colony. KISSEY. A town of Liberated Africans, in the Parish of St. Patrick-Inhabitants in the town and its vicinity, 1500. CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY-1816. Gustavus Reinhold Nylander, Min ister-Mrs. Wenzel, Native Schoolmistress-George Thomas, John Bannah, Native Assistants. At the close of that year he adds 'It has pleased God still further to bless the preaching of his Word. On Christmas day I baptized 15 adults, of both sexes; and a still greater number have applied for admission to the ordinance, some of whom are, I trust, under religious impressions. The number of Communicants will, in future, be 35. I hope to admit to baptism next quarter, four promising Young Men sionary Prayer Meeting is regularly and two Women. Our Monthly Misattended; and we collect at it upwards of 3 per month." In August the Governor attended Divine Service at Kissey. In reporting this circumstance, it is stated in the Sierra Leone Gazette 'Kissey, during the last year, has been much improved: new streets have been formed-new gardens established-and hundreds of new faces enliven the scene. The Church, which has undergone considerable improvement, was filled with a devout and orderly congregation. His Excellency appeared highly gratified with the numerous improvements in the vicinity.” WELLINGTON. By the addition of Liberated Afri- A town of Discharged African Solcans since the Official Return in Jan-diers and their Families in the Parish uary 1822, the inhabitants have been of Arthur-inhabitants at the return increased to about 1000 under Mr. of Jan, 1822, were 547; of whom 354 Nylander's immediate care: beside were men. these, about 500 live in huts near Kissey, but under his control. At Christmas 1822, Mr. Nylander reported CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. John Sandy, Native Teacher. In January 1822, John Sandy was stationed here. He had been previousDivine Service is attended on Sun-ly fixed at Hastings, and had afterdays by 600 people and upward; and wards assisted at Leopold and Regent. about 400 attend Morning and Even-In August there were 36 scholars in ing prayers on week-days. About 50 the Day School and 89 in the evening. mechanics attend Evening School;100 boys and 100 girls are at the Day Schools; a few married women also attend, but very irregularly.-George Thomas is of very great service to me; he is assistant at the boy's School, and Clerk in the Church," To be Continued. Prayer, like Jonathan's bow returns not empty. Some prayers indeed have a longer voyage than others; but then return with a richer lading at last. Gurnal. CEYLON MISSION. (Christ. Watchman. stationed in the parish where he liv Since the commencement of this ed, and heard Christ preached as the mission, as appears by the joint letter way of salvation. He became gradof the Missionaries of June 21, 1823, ually more and more convinced of the 24 have been added to the church; 3 truths of the gospel; and after having only have been subjects of discipline, given good evidence for some months, and respecting these strong hopes are that he was a subject of divine teachcherished of their recovery. The ing, and truly believed on Christ, he Missionaries gratefully acknowledge was admitted to the church on an open the goodness of God, that in the hea-profession of his faith, Feb. 9, 1823. then land in which they are situated, The history of this case must be an where morality and the restraints of encouraging faet to those who are civilized life are comparatively un-engaged in the circulation of the Biknown, and where temptations to ini- ble. No one can estimate the value quity are constantly pressing, that no of a free distribution of the sacred more have fallen. The exercise of volume, even amongst those who are church discipline, when inflicted with not favored with the preaching of the a regard to the honor of God, the di-gospel. rections of his word, and from a regard to the good of the transgressor, The Children in the Boarding is found to be attended with effects Schools at the Mission Station in highly useful. It makes known the Ceylon, as appears by the letter of the holy nature of the religion of Christ, Missionar es dated in June last, ait produces circumspection & watch-mount to about 170-140 boys and fulness in the members of the church; 30 girls. About 30 of these children and whilst it thus deters from iniqui-are already so far advanced as to octy, preserves the purity of the body.cupy much time in their instruction. A remarkable instance of the won- The natives begin more fully to apder-working efficacy of the simple preciate the benefits of these schools, word of God has occurred at Manepy. and are more willing than formerly to Mr. Meigs, missionary, had taken commit their offspring to the teaching means to convey a Testament to a man of the Missionaries. Those in the belonging to Patticotta, who had been U, States, who contribute to the supcast into prison. Another, of the name port of these schools, have good reaof Conter, was cast into the same pris-son to continue their benevolent exon; & as the owner of the Testatament⠀ ertions; their charity is already said was, during the day, absent from the to have had a most happy influence on prison under the direction of the gov- the prospects of the Mission. enment, Conter obtained access to the Testament, and read it with much attention. A number of idolaters in From the journal of Gabriel Tissera, the prison with him, had erected an a native preacher in Ceylon, it appears altar to some demon, to whom they that some of the heathen traditions in offered prayers. Conter reproved that country resemble some facts menthem, but without effect. As he tioned in the word of God. They continued to read, he felt more deeply reckon four ages, which they call by the mportance of the truth which he four different names. In some reread, his own perishing state as a sin-spects their descriptions agree with ner,&his need of a better righteousness such scriptural particulars as these;--than his own to justify himself before the holy and happy state in which God. He was at length released from Adam was before the fall; the longeprison, visited the missionary who was "vity of the antediluvians; the sinful ་ HEATHEN TRADITIONS. ib. |